NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Launch: Live Updates

2021-12-16T22: 48: 37.033Z

Fixed data cable on the James Webb Space Telescope

Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator for science missions, announced today on Twitter that the agency’s James Webb Space Telescope Launch Team has fixed the data cable connection problem that delayed the launch of the space observatory. A new release date will be announced on Friday, December 18.

“Just from the Webb launch site: The team has fixed the connection problem and @NASAWebb is in the middle of its last vitality test scheduled before launch,” Zurbuchen wrote on Twitter. “We will provide an additional update on the encapsulation status and release date tomorrow.”

The Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to launch no earlier than December 24, two days later than planned due to the data cable problem.

2021-12-16T19: 09: 00.168Z

The faulty cable caused a delay in the launch of JWST

A faulty communications cable is responsible for the latest delay in the James Webb Space Telescope, according to the European Space Agency.

At a press conference today (December 16), ESA officials said that faulty data designed to deliver data from the Webb Space Telescope and its rocket and launch pad equipment was not working properly.

“It is an interface problem in the electrical grid connecting the observatory and the ground support equipment,” said Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s director of space transportation, at the briefing. “It’s a cable located on the launch table, which is experiencing some intermittent data loss.”

Read our full story here.

2021-12-16T17: 28: 39.961Z

JWST packed for flight

(Image credit: ESA-M.Pedoussaut)

On Saturday, December 11, Arianespace packed NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope for launch, mounting the space telescope atop its Ariane 5 rocket for a planned launch from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.

The actual launch date of the Webb Space Telescope is still uncertain, as NASA and Arianespace have delayed its launch (initially scheduled for December 22) to no earlier than December 24. An update to Webb’s launch plans is expected on Friday, December. 17, according to NASA.

NASA and Arianespace originally aimed to launch the Webb Space Telescope on October 31 and have repeatedly delayed it due to integration and other issues. Watch this space for updates on a new firm launch date for the James Webb Space Telescope.

2021-12-15T01: 04: 36.927Z

JWST release delayed to December 24

(Image credit: M.Pedoussaut / ESA)

The James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to launch no earlier than Christmas Eve (December 24), NASA announced today.

“The James Webb Space Telescope team is working on a communication problem between the observatory and the launch vehicle system,” NASA officials said in a statement. “This will push the release date back to no earlier than Friday December 24. We will provide more information on the new release date no later than Friday December 17.”

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2021-12-09T02: 16: 43.287Z

James Webb Space Telescope ready for launch

After years of development and billions of dollars, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is almost ready for launch.

Follow JWST’s final days on Earth and its future as a new Grand Observatory for NASA, the European Space Agency, the Canadian Space Agency, and the world in our live coverage here.