James Webb Space Telescope begins historic mission

[oldballs]

Why should I care what happened 13 billion years ago? Nor whether modern man evolved from some primordial mass or monkey?

There must be some technological gain to me from such research that I'm probably not aware of. But it just sounds like a hellava expensive hobby to me.

Since the belief in the Almighty Creator sets the tone of my faith, I can contemplate that without understanding the mind of God....which is infinite. I've built my own telescope,... studied the constellations,.... I used many microscopes...and viewed the pictures sent from the Hubble.......but fail to "see" the utility of this project.......except maybe for space wars.

In times past man has made moral and political issues from such scientific facts and or theories. Maybe that's what this is all about.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[ovrszd]

Why should I care what happened 13 billion years ago? Nor whether modern man evolved from some primordial mass or monkey?

There must be some technological gain to me from such research that I'm probably not aware of. But it just sounds like a hellava expensive hobby to me.

Since the belief in the Almighty Creator sets the tone of my faith, I can contemplate that without understanding the mind of God....which is infinite. I've built my own telescope,... studied the constellations,.... I used many microscopes...and viewed the pictures sent from the Hubble.......but fail to "see" the utility of this project.......except maybe for space wars.

In times past man has made moral and political issues from such scientific facts and or theories. Maybe that's what this is all about.

Cheers,
Mike

I was hoping you would join this discussion Mike. I highly value your thoughts and opinions in this regard.

I share your beliefs. And with that, always comes the same question for me. If God didn't intend for me to explore this why would I have been given the resources to do so?

In regards to any gain. I firmly believe our lives today are dramatically improved by previous space exploration. This project will produce even more improvements. Might be something so simple as the design and/or materials developed to make this machine.

 

[ovrszd]

Says with the heat shield deployed the machine will be cooling down. Hard to believe all the parts can work.

NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Ready for Sunshield Deployment and Cooldown

With Webb’s first major structural deployments completed and the observatory’s Deployable Tower Assembly extended, we are taking a step back to learn more about Webb’s sunshield. Observatory Project Scientist Michael McElwain, from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, provided these thoughts: “The

scitechdaily.com

That part always intrigues me.

Here I am under the warning of a pending Winter Storm. Probably going to have to push snow with the road grader in temps as low as -9F. I am concerned that the machine will perform without failure under such harsh conditions......

 

[ruffdog]

Why should I care what happened 13 billion years ago? Nor whether modern man evolved from some primordial mass or monkey?

There must be some technological gain to me from such research that I'm probably not aware of. But it just sounds like a hellava expensive hobby to me.

Since the belief in the Almighty Creator sets the tone of my faith, I can contemplate that without understanding the mind of God....which is infinite. I've built my own telescope,... studied the constellations,.... I used many microscopes...and viewed the pictures sent from the Hubble.......but fail to "see" the utility of this project.......except maybe for space wars.

In times past man has made moral and political issues from such scientific facts and or theories. Maybe that's what this is all about.

Cheers,
Mike

I would have to agree with you Mike. Sure, people are curious about space and the universe but man, $10+ B is a lot of money to look at what happened a very long time ago, very far away from our planet. I just think we could make more of a effort to better our home here.

 

[rekees4300]

Why should I care what happened 13 billion years ago?

Cheers,
Mike

MISSION GOALS:

• Search for the first galaxies or luminous objects formed after the Big Bang
• Determine how galaxies evolved from their formation until now
• Observe the formation of stars from the first stages to the formation of planetary systems
• Measure the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems, including our own Solar System, and investigate the potential for life in those systems

 

[Citydude]

MISSION GOALS:

• Search for the first galaxies or luminous objects formed after the Big Bang
• Determine how galaxies evolved from their formation until now
• Observe the formation of stars from the first stages to the formation of planetary systems
• Measure the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems, including our own Solar System, and investigate the potential for life in those systems

The human race has always had the urge to see whats over the next hill.

I'm of the opinion that this mission will give answers to questions. Will the answers benefit our planet? I guess that will be determined.

 

[ovrszd]

I would have to agree with you Mike. Sure, people are curious about space and the universe but man, $10+ B is a lot of money to look at what happened a very long time ago, very far away from our planet. I just think we could make more of a effort to better our home here.

I agree it could have been better spent. Or worse spent.

$10 Billion is 1% of a Trillion. Our Annual Budget in 2021 was $6.82 Trillion. So this $10B expenditure was .14% of our Annual Budget. That is if this old man did the math right.

On the other hand, NASA's Annual Budget is $23.3 Billion. So they spent 43% on this project.

Not arguing one way or the other. Simply trying to put this in perspective.

 

[K5lwq]

The problem I see is people will see what they want to see regardless of what it really is. So they will be able to see some stuff far away and be able to verify what exactly? The only One that knows what the stuff is or where it came from is God. The rest of us will just guess. Should be fun.

 

[ovrszd]

The problem I see is people will see what they want to see regardless of what it really is. So they will be able to see some stuff far away and be able to verify what exactly? The only One that knows what the stuff is or where it came from is God. The rest of us will just guess. Should be fun.

Our greatest benefit from this project may have already been gained. Read the specifics about this machine and it's development. Pretty amazing stuff. The Sun Shield alone is miraculous.

 

[oldballs]

Dang it !!! I've made up my mind. Don't confuse me with the facts. But wait......the big winter blast is nearing.........I gotta go change the oil in the old snowblower.

Happy new Earth Year Guys.

Mike