James Webb Space Telescope begins historic mission

[dstig1]

That is what puzzles me as I have read that the pressure from the sun on the shade is going to push it away and needs to be counteracted by the engines on board. This a good part of why it has a relatively limited life as it will run out of fuel to correct at some point. So that would seem to be the opposite of any sort of drag that might exist, plus I am under the impression (perhaps mistakenly) that there is pretty much no drag in space. Thus why I am puzzled...

 

[ArlyA]

The sun emits whats called "the solar wind" which as it sounds, pushes whatever is relatively close by.

 

[ruffdog]

It is slowing because it is moving away from the earth and sun while the gravitational pull from both are tugging at it. When they launched it, they pushed it hard enough to barely get it to its destination....like pushing a kid on a bike up a hill so he barely gets to the tops and stops. Then they will orbit at the L2 position.

Quote:

How Long Will It Take Webb To Get To L2?​

It will take roughly 30 days for Webb to reach the start of its orbit at L2, but it will take only 3 days to get as far away as the Moon’s orbit, which is about a quarter of the way there. Getting Webb to its orbit around L2 is like reaching the top of a hill by pedaling a bicycle vigorously only at the very beginning of the climb, generating enough energy and speed to spend most of the way coasting up the hill so as to slow to a stop and barely arrive at the top.

Orbit - Webb/NASA

 

[ovrszd]

It is slowing because it is moving away from the earth and sun while the gravitational pull from both are tugging at it. When they launched it, they pushed it hard enough to barely get it to its destination....like pushing a kid on a bike up a hill so he barely gets to the tops and stops. Then they will orbit at the L2 position.

Quote:

How Long Will It Take Webb To Get To L2?​

It will take roughly 30 days for Webb to reach the start of its orbit at L2, but it will take only 3 days to get as far away as the Moon’s orbit, which is about a quarter of the way there. Getting Webb to its orbit around L2 is like reaching the top of a hill by pedaling a bicycle vigorously only at the very beginning of the climb, generating enough energy and speed to spend most of the way coasting up the hill so as to slow to a stop and barely arrive at the top.

Orbit - Webb/NASA

That's what I needed to see. Thanks!!!!

 

[dstig1]

Aha! So that explains it. Thanks!

 

[dstig1]

There is an interesting graphic showing the mirrors getting moved into position on the where is webb site, if you are curious.

Where Is Webb? NASA/Webb

During Webb's launch, deployment and commissioning, 'WhereIsWebb' tracked Webb's 'flight' to L2 orbit, its state and progress during its deployment and commissioning process, and finally the release of its first images. This process is now complete. During this process, the page constantly...

www.jwst.nasa.gov

 

[ovrszd]

There is an interesting graphic showing the mirrors getting moved into position on the where is webb site, if you are curious.

Where Is Webb? NASA/Webb

During Webb's launch, deployment and commissioning, 'WhereIsWebb' tracked Webb's 'flight' to L2 orbit, its state and progress during its deployment and commissioning process, and finally the release of its first images. This process is now complete. During this process, the page constantly...

www.jwst.nasa.gov

I read an article and watched a video about that. Very interesting. Absolutely amazing they can have that many small motors involved and all of them work under extreme conditions. Yesterday the temp differences were around 380F. Incredible.

 

[rekees4300]

Yes, it is amazing how small motors work in that extreme cold. Absolute zero is -459F. Imagine trying to start a car in those temperatures!

 

[ovrszd]

Yes, it is amazing how small motors work in that extreme cold. Absolute zero is -459F. Imagine trying to start a car in those temperatures!

Many years ago I had a Ford Ranger PU with a 5 spd. Used an engine heater to get it cranked. In -20F temps after cranking with the clutch depressed you'd have to slip the clutch a little when releasing it or it would kill engine in neutral.

 

[ovrszd]

Hey the Webb scope has slowed down to a speed I understand!!!! 558 mph.