NASA has just launched a record-breaking telescope into space - here's how

Jan 7, 2022

The James Webb Space Telescope is packed up for shipment to its launch site in Kourou, French Guiana in an undated photograph at Northrop Grumman's Space Park in Redondo Beach, California.

The James Webb Space Telescope was launched into space on December 25, 2021. Image: NASA/Chris Gunn

Marcia Rieke

Regents Professor of Astronomy, University of Arizona

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In order to detect the most distant and oldest galaxies, the telescope needs to be huge and kept extremely cold. Image: NASA/Chris Gunn

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The five layers of silvery material underneath the gold mirror are a sunshield that will reflect light and heat to keep the sensors incredibly cold. Image: NASA/Chris Gunn

Engineers and scientists tested the entire telescope in an an extremely cold, low-pressure cryogenic vacuum chamber. Image: NASA/Chris Gunn

Rehearsals and training at the Space Telescope Science Institute are critical to make sure that the assembly process goes smoothly and any unexpected anomalies can be dealt with. Image: NASA/Chris Gunn

To fit inside a rocket, the telescope needs to fold into a compact package. Image: NASA/Chris Gunn

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