NASA's James Webb Space Telescope completes first round of cryogenic mirror test
Friday, June 17, 2011 - 18:30
in Astronomy & Space
The first six of 18 segments that will form NASA's James Webb Space Telescope's primary mirror for space observations completed final cryogenic testing this week. The ten week test series included two tests cycles where the mirrors were chilled down to -379 degrees Fahrenheit, then back to ambient temperature to ensure the mirrors respond as expected to the extreme temperatures of space.