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Chapter 1: James Webb Space Telescope's Alignment Achieved
On April 28, 2022, NASA revealed that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has successfully completed the seventh and final phase of its alignment process. This milestone ensures that Webb can produce sharp, well-focused images using all four of its onboard instruments. The team will now transition into the last stage of preparation, referred to as science commissioning, which is expected to take about two months. Following this phase, JWST will commence its scientific operations.
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Section 1.1: Overview of Instrument Performance
Images captured by each of JWST's instruments showcase stars located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a neighboring galaxy to our Milky Way. The arrangement and sizes of these images illustrate the relative positioning of each instrument in the telescope's focal plane, as each one targets a slightly different area of the sky.
According to NASA, the telescope's performance consistently exceeds expectations. The image quality produced by all four instruments is described as "diffraction-limited," indicating that the detail captured is the highest possible given the telescope's size.
Section 1.2: Insights from NASA's Optical Manager
“These impressive test images from a successfully aligned telescope illustrate what can be accomplished when there is a daring scientific ambition to explore our universe,” stated Lee Feinberg, the optical telescope element manager at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
Chapter 2: Future Operations and Maintenance
With the telescope now fully aligned, only minor adjustments will be required for the primary mirror segments as JWST operates. Routine maintenance checks will occur every two days to monitor and, if needed, adjust the mirrors.
The first video titled "The Webb Telescope Completes Alignment Phase" provides insights into the completion of the alignment process and what it means for the future of space observation.
The second video, "JWST Alignment COMPLETED! New Images from James Webb Space Telescope," showcases the new images produced by JWST and highlights its readiness for scientific exploration.
The subsequent steps for preparing the telescope for its operational phase will focus on configuring and testing its instruments in various combinations. This process is expected to take around two months, allowing the public to anticipate the first scientific observation images by late June or early July.