Space Telescopes
Image by ESA/ATG medialab: An artist’s impression of the James Webb Space Telescope
Ever wonder why we need telescopes in space? I did up until a few nights ago, when I read about the newest one, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). There are a number of reasons for a space-based telescope, the top two being the elimination of light pollution and the ability to see beyond the satellites orbiting the earth. I learned from the JWST that there is a third reason, the elimination of the effects the earth’s atmosphere has on infrared light. This raises another question of course, which is why we need to observe infrared light in space.
The JWST was conceived in 1996, developed over the course of ten years and scheduled to launch in 2007. The project faced major set-backs, project delays, and funding shortages. Eventually the project budget was increased through massive expansion of the end goals from 0.5 billion to 9.6 billion dollars and was set to launch December 25, 2021. The JWST was dubbed the “observatory of the decade” and in the year since the launch, has proven to be worth the wait.
I find it interesting that the scientist driving the project had a goal of learning more about the origins of the universe. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) websites both read, “The James Webb Space Telescope will be a giant leap forward in our quest to understand the Universe and our origins.”
As a believer that the Bible is the true word of God and reveals to us the truth about our origins, I question if the human speculation of the data to be gathered is worth the 10 billion dollars and nearly 20-year development time. However, I also look forward to comparing the discoveries to my belief. It has been my experience that most of science proves my beliefs to be true when looked at through the filter of the Bible.
Scott Devin and Mark Harwood, writers for creation.com, agree with my views on the importance of such missions. “New discoveries will enable us to better understand and appreciate the universe God has made, helping us fulfill the God-given desire for exploration and insight, as well as assist us in glorifying God!” Psalms 19:1 say. “The heavens declare the Glory of God.”
Many of the delays in the JWST project were related to the many checks that had to be performed prior to launch. You may remember the first attempt at a space telescope in 1990, Hubble, which resulted in blurry and distorted images because of an imperfection in the main mirror. It was very fortunate that Hubble was traveling in low earth orbit (574 km) which made it possible to service the telescope. In 1993 space shuttle Endeavor reached Hubble and made the necessary repairs to make it functional. There have been a total of four missions to improve Hubble, but the JWST will not be serviceable due to the nature of the project. The JWST is designed to orbit the sun at a set distance known as Lagrange Point 2, which is 1.5 million kilometers from earth.
The reason for this vast distance from earth is to allow JWST to observe the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is an area where we create a lot of interference in our daily activities. The computing systems on JWST had to be designed to operate outside the spectrum and the distance from earth was required to avoid interference from our own electronics. Not to mention that any heated object will give off infrared radiation; this includes all our existing satellites, the earth and even the moon. Even at this great distance JWST requires a custom-designed heat-shield to block unwanted radiation from the sun, earth, moon and other planets.
The JWST project has four main scientific objectives. First to discover evidence of the Early Universe, second to observe the formation of galaxies over time, third to monitor the life-cycle of stars, and fourth to look for other worlds. Over the next four weeks I will look at each of these objectives in greater detail and let you know what we have learned so far in the exploration of space with the JWST. Until next week, stay safe and learn something new.
Scott Hamilton is an Expert in Emerging Technologies at ATOS and can be reached with questions and comments via email to sh*******@te**********.org or through his website at https://www.techshepherd.org.
