Research & Development World

  • Home Page
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Archeology
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Chemistry
    • COVID-19
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Market Pulse
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
      • Software
    • Semiconductors
  • 2021 R&D 100 Award Winners
    • R&D 100 Awards
    • 2020 Winners
    • Winner Archive
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Webinars

Crucial Pathfinder Test for NASA Telescope

By R&D Editors | April 20, 2015

Image credit: NASA/Chris GunnInside NASA’s giant thermal vacuum chamber, called Chamber A, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, the James Webb Space Telescope’s Pathfinder backplane test model is being prepared for its cryogenic test. Previously used for manned spaceflight missions, this historic chamber is now filled with engineers and technicians preparing for a crucial test.

Exelis developed and installed the optical test equipment in the chamber.

“The optical test equipment was developed and installed in the chamber by Exelis,” says Thomas Scorse, Exelis JWST Program Manager. “The Pathfinder telescope gives us our first opportunity for an end-to-end checkout of our equipment.”

See related stories:
Space Simulation Chamber Prepared for NASA Telescope – http://www.cemag.us/news/2015/01/space-simulation-chamber-prepared-nasa-telescope
Discover the “X-Factor” of NASA’s Webb Telescope – http://www.cemag.us/news/2014/07/discover-x-factor-nasas-webb-telescope
NASA Telescope Assembled in World’s Largest Cleanroom – http://www.cemag.us/news/2014/04/nasa-telescope-assembled-worlds-largest-cleanroom

“This will be the first time on the program that we will be aligning two primary mirror segments together,” says Lee Feinberg, NASA Optical Telescope Element Manager. “In the past, we have always tested one mirror at a time but this time we will use a single test system and align both mirrors to it as though they are a single monolithic mirror.”

The James Webb Space Telescope is the scientific successor to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. It will be the most powerful space telescope ever built, and is being tested inside a Class 10,000 cleanroom. Webb is an international project led by NASA with its partners, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency.

Release Date: April 20, 2015
Source: NASA   

 

Related Articles Read More >

Powering the moon: Sandia researchers design microgrid for future lunar base
R&D collaborations looking to build expertise, in this week’s R&D power index
R&D 100 winner of the day: Traffic Flow Impact (TFI) Tool
Greater than expected growth in fourth quarter, in this week’s R&D power index
2021 R&D Global Funding Forecast

Need R&D World news in a minute?

We Deliver!
R&D World Enewsletters get you caught up on all the mission critical news you need in research and development. Sign up today.
Enews Signup

R&D World Digital Issues

February 2020 issue

Browse the most current issue of R&D World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading R& magazine today.

Research & Development World
  • Subscribe to R&D World Magazine
  • Enews Sign Up
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Drug Discovery & Development
  • Pharmaceutical Processing
  • 2021 Global Funding Forecast

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search R&D World

  • Home Page
  • Topics
    • Aerospace
    • Archeology
    • Automotive
    • Biotech
    • Chemistry
    • COVID-19
    • Environment
    • Energy
    • Life Science
    • Material Science
    • R&D Market Pulse
    • R&D Management
    • Physics
  • Technology
    • 3D Printing
    • A.I./Robotics
    • Battery Technology
    • Controlled Environments
      • Cleanrooms
      • Graphene
      • Lasers
      • Regulations/Standards
      • Sensors
    • Imaging
    • Nanotechnology
    • Scientific Computing
      • Big Data
      • HPC/Supercomputing
      • Informatics
      • Security
      • Software
    • Semiconductors
  • 2021 R&D 100 Award Winners
    • R&D 100 Awards
    • 2020 Winners
    • Winner Archive
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Podcasts
    • Subscribe
  • Global Funding Forecast
  • Webinars