The James Webb Telescope has completed its final functional performance tests, confirming that the observatory's internal electronics are working as expected, and that all instruments will be able to send and receive data correctly once in space. More than ever, the James Webb Telescope is ready for its launch in October.
The James Webb Telescope is one of the most anticipated observatories, with a launch normally scheduled for the fall on an Ariane 5 (ESA) rocket from Guyana. Positioned at 1.5 million kilometers from Earth on the side opposite the Sun, it will be able to probe the Universe like never before. In the meantime, mission operators are continuing final testing at Northrop Grumman's facility in California. And the month of February was rather busy.
In recent weeks, the observatory has undergone two test campaigns. The first involved what the researchers call "full systems testing".
During these evaluations, concretely, the technicians powered up all the electrical components installed on the observatory. They then analyzed their planned operations to make sure everyone was functioning and communicating with each other. During these tests, all commands were entered correctly, and all telemetry data received was correct.
Following the completion of the final evaluation of the telescope systems, the technicians then moved on to the "Ground Segment Test". This test was designed to simulate the complete process of future operations , from planning observations to publishing scientific data in the community archive. In other words, NASA has used the observatory in the same way as it will when it is positioned in orbit.
With this in mind, the researchers have put together a simulated plan for each of the telescope's four scientific instruments to follow. Commands to activate, move, and operate each in sequence were then relayed from the Mission Operations Center (MOC) in Baltimore, Maryland.
At the same time, the flight operations team connected the observatory to the Deep Space Network. It is an international network of giant radio antennas that NASA uses to communicate with many spacecraft. Special equipment was used to emulate the actual radio link that will exist between the telescope and the network when the observatory is in orbit. The commands were then transmitted via the Deep Space Network emulator to the Northrop Grumman Observatory.
All these tests passed , says NASA. Engineers and technicians are now gearing up for the next set of technical milestones. These will include the final folding of the sun visor, and a final deployment of the mirror. If all goes according to plan, the telescope will then be shipped to the launch site.
