The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
It is designed to observe some of the most distant and ancient objects in the universe, including the first galaxies that formed after the Big Bang, as well as the formation of stars and planets in our own galaxy.
The telescope is named after James E. Webb, a former NASA administrator who played a key role in the Apollo program.
The JWST's main mirror is 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) in diameter, which is about 100 times more powerful than the Hubble Space Telescope's main mirror.
The James Webb Space Telescope was launched on 25 December 2021 on an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, and placed in orbit around the second Lagrange point (L2), which is located about 1.5 million kilometers (930,000 miles) from Earth.
The JWST is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the universe and provide unprecedented insights into the origins and evolution of galaxies, stars, and planets.
The JWST will be able to observe in the infrared spectrum, which allows it to see through dust and gas clouds that obscure visible light.
The JWST's scientific instruments include a near-infrared camera, a near-infrared spectrograph, and a mid-infrared instrument that will allow it to study the atmospheres of exoplanets.
The JWST has undergone extensive testing to ensure it can survive the extreme conditions of space, including extreme temperatures, vibration, and radiation.
The JWST is expected to have a mission lifetime of at least 10 years, during which it will contribute significantly to our understanding of the universe.