NASA's latest James Webb space telescope completes comprehensive testing

The James Webb telescope was finally assembled, and CST testers took the unique opportunity to conduct a set of checks on electronics and systems.

CST (Comprehensive Systems Test) is a set of checks on the operation of all systems of the device after assembly. For Webb, this is the first such test.

Now that James Webb is fully assembled, simulations are no longer needed, and engineers can confidently evaluate both its software and electronic performance in the assembled version.

Testing is the best way to ensure mission success.

Webb is the technically sophisticated and largest NASA space telescope ever built. It consists of many components that must interact with each other to achieve a mission.

Similar tests show how each module interacts with each other.

The importance of testing can hardly be overestimated; when writing software, individual units of code should be checked and double-checked as they are written, as they unite increasingly large parts of the code. Simply put - they are looking for and fixing bugs. Tests must be run every time as changes are made to the code to make sure it is operational. Testing was carried out 24 hours a day, for 15 days. About 1070 scripts were written and 1370 procedures performed.

Photo: NASA / Chris Gunn

After the complete assembly of the James Webb Space Telescope, test teams conducted a comprehensive system assessment that allowed them to confidently evaluate Webb's software and electronic characteristics as a fully assembled apparatus.

The final series of tests will determine Webb’s readiness. After the next set of tests (acoustic and vibration, simulating the starting conditions), the team will conduct one more test of the entire Webb system, after which the engineers will compare the results before and after the tests, which should be the same, showing that the device works without problems and will withstand all conditions launch.

I have never seen such an interorganizational effort that would bring together many people in various fields to successfully achieve a common goal

- said the representative of the company involved in the project.

Photo: Northrop Grumman

The evolving situation with the new coronavirus COVID-19 is having a significant detrimental effect worldwide. Following the expanded personal safety measures introduced in March, the team continued its work on integration and testing in cleanrooms with a significant reduction in staff and shifts.

A new launch date should be set in July. The launch was previously scheduled for March 2021.

The James Webb Space Telescope, NASA believes, will become the leading observatory of space science in the world and will try to solve puzzles not only in the solar system, but also in outer space. Webb is an international program led by NASA and its partners, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

Comments

[Victor_B]

So soon in orbit.
Good luck!
God grant him the same glory as Hubble!

[teron]

I look forward to it too. God grant everything will turn out.

[Vladimir16]

Testing is the best way to ensure mission success.

They have good telescopes

[dauria]

They have good telescopes

I watch the channel "Galaxy" - people like people are Americans, smart, hard-working, obsessed with science, not dollars. And then there is a negrito, pissing on a police car and crowds of white and black monkeys (it is difficult to name it otherwise). An interesting country.

[slipped]

Quote: Vladimir16

They have good telescopes

We are also good. There is even better.

[Red Dragon]

And which ones are better, could you clarify? And what exactly is better?

[slipped]

Quote: Red Dragon

And which ones are better, could you clarify? And what exactly is better?

We are now launching a series of large astrophysical observatories of the Spectrum series.

The first was the Spektr-R project of the Radioastron project - a radio interferometer with a wide base of 330 km. Over the seven-plus years of his working years (from 000 to 2011), more than 2019 thousand different experiments were carried out on observations, including those with the highest resolution of 5 microseconds of an arc. He mainly worked on masers and quasars, i.e. powerful radio sources of the Universe. Gigabytes of information that he leaked to Earth is still being unpacked from the archive and studied - in astronomical journals periodically and now there are articles about discoveries with the help of this apparatus.

The second is Spectr-RG, launched last year and has been successfully carrying out its astronomical research at the L2 Lagrange point for a year now (the X-ray-Gamma project). X-ray observatory with two telescopes of soft and hard X-ray ranges - Russian and German. We are scanning the entire sky, the first full scan has already been received, the second has begun. Based on the scans, an ultra-high-resolution general map will be compiled for astronomers for the next 30 years.

The telescope carried out spot work on the Crab Nebula and Cygnus X-1, in-depth observations of the central region of the Galaxy, the discovery of new variable sources of X-ray radiation, the possibility of "X-ray navigation" was demonstrated. Those. maps obtained as a result of scanning can be used for flights to distant planets of the solar system. A special neural network created at IKI RAS is engaged in processing the results. Of the latest interesting results obtained are information on the radiation situation on exoplanets suitable for life.

The next step is preparing for launch in four years - the world space observatory "Spectrum-UV" (project "Ultraviolet"). Spain participates in the project. Japan has recently joined the project.

Next is the Spektr-M observatory (Millimetron project) with a giant cryo-mirror 10 meters in diameter.

Work is also underway on the Gamma-400 and Arka observatories.

This is if very briefly.

[Red Dragon]

Thank you for the information, very interesting. But the question was what exactly the telescopes that you listed are better than the James Webb telescope.

[slipped]

Quote: Red Dragon

Thank you for the information, very interesting. But the question was what exactly the telescopes that you listed are better than the James Webb telescope.

Where did I say that "better than" James Webb ""? It was about telescopes in general.

Each telescope has its own spectral sections. Webb cannot work in the X-ray range like Spektr-RG, he cannot work in the radio range like Spektr-R, he will not be able to capture the ultraviolet spectrum that Spectrum-UV will watch. Also, it will not be able to work in the millimeter wavelength range.

He will operate in the visible and infrared bands. This is his specialization. And that’s it.

If we speak in this vein, then in this regard - ours are better - capture most of the spectrum.

To make it clearer and clearer for you what and how in the spectrum:

[Red Dragon]

In your first post on the quote from Vladimir16 - "They have good telescopes", you answered: "We also have good ones. There are even BETTER ones." So I'm trying to find out which is BETTER.

[slipped]

Quote: Red Dragon

In your first post on the quote from Vladimir16 - "They have good telescopes", you answered: "We also have good ones. There are even BETTER ones." So I'm trying to find out which is BETTER.

Did I answer your question above? By the way, if you take our Spektr-RG, which is now in space, then other countries will not have a similar instrument operating in two high-energy ranges and with such a resolution for another thirty years.

[Red Dragon]

Didn't quite answer. As I understand it, in what it is better, in what it is worse, to say unequivocally that it is impossible to get better. Or I'm wrong?

[slipped]

Quote: Red Dragon

Didn't quite answer. As I understand it, in what it is better, in what it is worse, to say unequivocally that it is impossible to get better. Or I'm wrong?

Probably wrong. Shirsha needs to look at the world. Widescreen. This is what makes our astrophysical projects different. We have one device complements the other in the entire range. And they are all at the very cutting edge of technology. The Americans are also trying to start doing something similar, but Webb ate all their money. The rest of the projects went to the right.

[Red Dragon]

On the other hand, we can say that Russia is scattering efforts, and the United States has focused on Webb Depends on the point of view. Well, I won’t argue anymore, we will wait for Webb to begin work and then we will more closely compare what happened.

[slipped]

Quote: Red Dragon

Well, I won’t argue anymore, we will wait for Webb to begin work and then we will more closely compare what happened.

And nobody argues with you. What will be the subject of comparison then? Webb will not be able to determine the radiation environment on exoplanets. And "Spectra" do not look at the planets of the solar system. These are different tools for different tasks, there are simply more of ours.

[andranick]

Is Webb better than ours?

[Red Dragon]

As far as I understand, Webb has a diameter of the main mirror of more than 6 meters. If launched in 2021 will be the biggest. Spectrum M has launch after 2025.

[andranick]

This is clear. But why is it BETTER?

[Red Dragon]

The larger the mirror, the more light is absorbed, which means the higher the sensitivity of the telescope.

[andranick]

You tell me about some of its properties. But the better it is, you cannot formulate it. Well, he has more, and so what? Well, he has more aperture and resolution in the optical range, approx. So is it BETTER than what?

[Red Dragon]

Listen, what is the main task of the telescope? What is it created for? Is it not to consider the details of the object under study? And the large resolution in the optical range allows this to be done better, or not? Is an object performing better tasks assigned to it better or not?

[andranick]

I do not know. Perhaps expand the natural limits of the human body. But you compared Webb to Spectrum. So I'm trying to understand why Webb is better, for example, Spectra.

[andranick]

Quote: Red Dragon

The subject that performs the tasks assigned to it better is better

Absolutely! It’s just that it’s doing its job better — fork or spoon? Optical radar station or radar?

[Red Dragon]

In fact of the matter. I didn't say Webb is definitely better than the Specters. It is a respected colleague of Slipped who stated more definitely, a quote: "We also have good (telescopes). There are even BETTER." I answered, most likely somewhere better, somewhere worse. Just because of the indefinite choice of evaluation criteria.

[MMX]

Quote: Red Dragon

The larger the mirror, the more light is absorbed, which means the higher the sensitivity of the telescope.

Thus, the comrade slipped comprehensively answered your question - why our telescopes are better, since Spurkt-M has a larger mirror diameter (significantly). Rt

[Red Dragon]

Spectrum M is scheduled to launch after 25 years. And Webb in 2021. Therefore, for a certain period, about 5 years, if everything goes according to plan, Webb will have the largest diameter of the mirror, among existing telescopes.

[MMX]

What was the question? When will they launch? Not.
And there was a question: what is better? Yes.
Feel the difference?
You have received the answer to your question. Exhaustive, I note.
Rt

[Red Dragon]

Dear MMX. Spectrum M is not yet in the launch configuration, and it may not be at all. Webb is already in final testing. Therefore, it is incorrect to compare what is better: what is already there, and what will be after some unclear time, in my opinion, is it not?

[MMX]

I absolutely do not care at what stage this or that cosm. telescope. Both exist. The question was "what's better?" An answer was given. All.

[Red Dragon]

Spectrum M does not exist. Only the outline design is protected. The diameter of the mirror WILL. Or maybe there will be no Mirror with a diameter of 10 m now. From what you do not care, he will not appear.

[MMX]

Quote: Red Dragon

Spectrum M does not exist. Only the outline design is protected. The diameter of the mirror WILL. Or maybe there will be no Mirror with a diameter of 10 m now. From what you do not care, he will not appear.

At different stages of readiness (ours so far only in the form of individual elements). This issue has been resolved. Forget about it already. The question was which is better. Spectrum-M is better.

[cradle]

in the final test doesn't mean it will be launched into space ... does it? This is following your own logic ...

[501 Legion]

How many times have his flights been delayed. if, after all, he flies and begins his mission, then for mankind he will open completely new horizons for outer space. Space lovers have long been waiting for his launch and discoveries that he can make.

[mdsr]

Quote: 501Legion

for humanity, he will open completely new horizons of space

How many stunning, mesmerizing images of distant galaxies and stars gave us the Hubble I look forward to how, with the launch of Webb, humanity will take another step in the study of our world - the Universe

[vadimtt]

A chic car that promises an impressive breakthrough after Hubble.
However, the complexity of the project rolls over! Almost at the limit of the possible.
What is the procedure for opening the mirror and its auto-alignment?
And how many exuberances with an attempt not to dirt this mirror with engines and to prevent the sun from heating.
If all this takes off, crawls to the desired point, opens and adjusts without fail, then I will applaud while standing!

[Andrea]

A worthy thing, a project, though it costs like 500 Boeings and there is no right to make a mistake. They managed to fix the hub thanks to the shuttles, and now

[Doctor]

That's where you need to invest in space. Perhaps the most necessary program after orbital grouping.

[Engineer]

The evolving situation with the new coronavirus COVID-19

The COVID is just the least to blame for the start delays. The epics are another ten years old. We did not think it would be so difficult and expensive.

God grant everything will turn out.

NASA is not Roscosmos, so they rely more on their own strength.

[voyaka uh]

It (if everything works out) will look like this in space:

Launched by the European Ariane rocket from French Guinea.

[Narak-zempo]

Quote: voyaka uh

Launched by the European Ariane rocket from French Guinea.

How do you like that, Ilon Musk?
But it is no coincidence that such an expensive piece is not trusted by balabola-planokur missiles.

[Andrey.AN]

I’m racking my brains as it is packed, if this is a composite mirror. Why lay down a large dish naturally, if it is possible and easier to stack reflections. They would put the plates in a stack, push it apart and unfold the dishes in the column obliquely, on the receiver away from the telescopic column, more simply, and it would be easier to adjust each dish individually, on the same expanding column, or two columns (about the sides of the viewing gyrostabilizer and power ) would place sliding solar panels. It would fit better into the launched barrel.

[Thunderbolt]

Here's how it will unfold / s 2.25 min. /

[Andrey.AN]

X-ray lengths will not accurately reflect, a direct mirror, parallel tracking of a pair of neighboring objects, the diaphragm will also not always allow, as well as conducting a search while continuing to monitor.

[Courier]

Good job Jack.

[Narak-zempo]

I wonder if we can do the same thing with him as they once did with Phobos-Grunt?

[Jack O'Neill]

Didn't Phobos-Grunt drown by itself?

[Narak-zempo]

Quote: Jack O'Neill

Didn't Phobos-Grunt drown by itself?

So after all, 9 years ago, the then head of Roscosmos, Popovkin, let slip that the failure was due to the impact of American missile defense radars on the Kwajalein Atoll. True, they wrote that it was "accidental" and all that, but we know.
And now, as Sharikov used to say, they themselves revolvers radars will be found

[Jack O'Neill]

It seems like they drove to HARP, but this is also unofficial.
The official version:
During the report, the official cause of the accident at the Phobos-Grunt station was the restart of two sets of the on-board computer complex due to the effects of cosmic radiation - heavy charged particles of outer space - due to underestimation of the space factor by the developers and creators of the interplanetary station. According to the head of Roscosmos, the employees of the Lavochkin NGO responsible for the miscalculation were brought to administrative responsibility.

According to the press service of Roscosmos, published on the Roscosmos website on February 3, 2012, a fragment (main provisions) of the Conclusion of the Interdepartmental Commission for the Analysis of the Causes of the Emergency Situation contains the following conclusions:

 Show / Hide text

1. Prior to the contingency, deviations from the onboard systems and assemblies performing their functions were not detected. The reason for the occurrence of the NSF is the restart of two half-sets of CVM22 BVK device that performed control of the Phobos-Grunt spacecraft on this flight section, after which, in accordance with the logic of the BKU operation, the regular cyclogram of the Phobos-Grunt flight was interrupted, and it switched to maintenance mode constant solar orientation and waiting for commands from the Earth in the X-band of communication, which was provided for by design solutions for the flight trajectory.

2. The most probable reason for the restart of two half-kits of the CVM22 BVK device is the local impact of heavy charged particles (TZCH) of outer space, which led to a failure in the RAM of the computing modules of the TsVM22 kits during the flight of the Phobos-Ground spacecraft at the second orbit. A RAM failure could be caused by a short-term inoperability of the ERI due to the impact of the TZZ on the cells of the computer modules TsVM22, which contain two chips of the same type WS512K32V20G24M, located in a single housing parallel to each other. The impact led to a distortion of the program code and the triggering of the watchdog timer, which caused the “restart” of both of the TsVM22 half-kits.

3. The volumes of ground experimental testing of spacecraft products for which the TK were issued, and the spacecraft "Phobos-Grunt", determined by the KPEO for them, taking into account the technical solutions adopted in the (NEO) process, were performed with positive results, including the development of the complex scientific equipment (KNA), technological documentation, technological processes, including critical technological processes, which is confirmed by the conclusions of FSUE TsNIIMash and other GNIO RCP.

[Narak-zempo]

Sorry, but it seems to me that the belief in the "official versions" should take place simultaneously with the belief in Santa Claus. Well, maybe a little later.
(today I'll be a conspiracy theorist, otherwise it's boring at work)

[Jack O'Neill]

Sorry, but it seems to me that the belief in the "official versions" should take place simultaneously with the belief in Santa Claus.

Better to believe in reservations? )

[Servisinzhener]

Well, as myself. Design error. In the project, the microcircuits were not laid with the tolerance that is needed. A similar jamb was with the AMC Mars in which the crystals of the KT312 transistors used in the AMC were soldered with aluminum wires instead of gold.

[Narak-zempo]

Quote: Servisinzhener

KT312 transistor crystals used in the AMC were soldered with aluminum wires instead of gold

I read that it was a rational proposal from the plant’s staff that produced transistors - to reduce costs.

[Servisinzhener]

And a perfectly normal proposal, working in terrestrial conditions. But for a long flight in space, it is completely unsuitable.

[Servisinzhener]

At the design stage, to include in the project the use of a "military" class memory chip instead of a space one?

[Kuroneko]

Author notes for the future - when you copy the translation of an English note from Google translate, take a more responsible approach to editing. = _ =
And it doesn’t interfere with the checker.
For his ears are visible everywhere.

[Jack O'Neill]

Author notes for the future - when you copy the translation of an English note from Google translate, take a more responsible approach to editing. = _ =
And it doesn’t interfere with the checker.
For his ears are visible everywhere.

The edited translate is only about COVID, the rest is the original text.

[viktor_ui]

The longest-awaited and largest technological diamond in the crown of research telescopes ... perfection itself and the most striking example of international cooperation sponsored by NASA. WE WAIT !!!