Goddard Space Flight Center Director Rob Strain (left) stands with Marshall Space Flight Center Director Robert Lightfoot. Between them, the James Webb Space Telescope mirror array is visible as it stands in the high bay clean room.

The first six of 18 segments that will form NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s primary mirror for space observations will begin final round-the-clock cryogenic testing this week. These tests will confirm the mirrors will respond as expected to the extreme temperatures of space prior to integration into the telescope’s permanent housing structure.

To read more go to: www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/news/jwst/11-111.html

Credit: NASA/MSFC/David Higginbotham

By: NASA Webb Telescope