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James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

Ariane 5 ECA+ArianespaceAriane Launch Area 3
Saturday, December 25, 2021 · 12:20 PM UTC

This mission is complete.

Mission Brief

The James Webb Space Telescope is a space telescope developed by NASA, ESA and CSA to succeed the Hubble Space Telescope as NASA's flagship astrophysics mission. Its primary mirror, the Optical Telescope Element, is composed of 18 hexagonal mirror segments which combine to create a 6.5 m diameter mirror, considerably larger than Hubble's 2.4 m mirror. This will allow JWST to provide improved infrared resolution and sensitivity over Hubble, and will enable a broad range of investigations across the fields of astronomy and cosmology, including observing some of the most distant events and objects in the universe, such as the formation of the first galaxies.

PayloadJames Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
OrbitSun-Earth L2
CustomerNASA Large Strategic Science Missions
Stages2
PadAriane Launch Area 3, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Mission Timeline

14 / 14100%

Ground vector

Launch site

Site locked

Ariane Launch Area 3

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Global range
SITE LOCK
Latitude
5.239°N
Longitude
52.768°W

Range Weather

Launch commit criteria

Clear
Watch
TrackingNo active constraints
Weather Rules

Tracking no weather issues at this time.

Primary concern
No weather issues
Rule count
0
Temperature
Not reported
Surface wind
Not reported
Window

12:20 PM UTC - 12:52 PM UTC

Vehicle

Ariane 5 ECA+

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Height63 m
LEO Payload10,900 kg
Launches356
Successes312

Provider

Arianespace

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FRA • Founded 1980

Schedule History

No meaningful launch-time or status changes recorded.