Universo curioso de la NASA · National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Desplegando el universo con el telescopio espacial James Webb

·19 min·1 clip

The James Webb Telescope will answer fundamental questions about the first galaxies and exoplanet atmospheres, changing our cosmic perspective.

This episode explores the ambitious science and complex engineering behind the James Webb Space Telescope. Host Noelia González is joined by NASA systems engineer Begoña Vila and astronomer Néstor Espinosa from the mission team. They detail the telescope's mission to observe the universe's first light and study distant planetary atmospheres. The telescope will observe infrared light to see the universe when it was only 300 million years old. It will study the formation of the first stars and galaxies over 13.5 billion years. A key goal is analyzing the atmospheres of exoplanets for elements like water and methane. Engineers folded its 6.5-meter mirror, composed of 18 hexagonal segments, like origami to fit inside an Ariane 5 rocket. A tennis-court-sized sunshield with five layers must also deploy in space to cool the instruments to minus 230 degrees Celsius. Its destination is a point 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, which is four times the Earth-Moon distance. The commissioning process after launch will take a minimum of six months to align the mirrors and calibrate the four main science instruments. The telescope is not a replacement for Hubble but a complementary partner that will observe the same targets in infrared. Its large mirror size allows it to collect more light and detect fainter objects than its predecessor. The expansion of the universe stretches light from distant galaxies into the infrared spectrum, which Webb is uniquely designed to capture. Infrared light can also pass through cosmic dust clouds, revealing stellar nurseries hidden from optical telescopes. Studying the first galaxies provides a direct link to understanding the formation of our own Milky Way. The TRAPPIST-1 system, with its seven Earth-sized planets, is a prime target for atmospheric studies in the star's habitable zone. The mission is an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. Engineers tested the entire observatory under extreme cold, vibration, and acoustic conditions to ensure it survives launch. The hosts express that some of the most exciting discoveries will be the unexpected data that challenges current scientific understanding. They believe contemplating Webb's findings can change our perspective on Earth's place in the cosmos. The tone is educational and reverent, filled with wonder about the cosmos. The style is conversational, explaining complex astrophysics through clear analogies and personal reflections from the scientists. This episode is perfect for space enthusiasts eager to understand the specific capabilities and engineering marvels of the James Webb telescope. Listeners who prefer narrative storytelling or debates over technical explanations might find it less engaging.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Universo curioso de la NASA