Latest Space Missions (& Other Science Stuff)

Smithsonian: Why Scientists Waited 50 Years to Study This Moon Dust.

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Well, I slept thru it but apparently the James Webb launch was a success. :clap: :clap: :clap:

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The launch sure was a success! Now we wait for 6 months or so before we get to see if this was truly a success as a whole.

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Damn, I hadn’t realised it needed that long to reach its final orbit. Are they ion-boosting it up to final altitude?

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Ok, no, it’s 6 months until it goes fully operational (I know you didn’t say anything else, I just misinterpreted). L2 insertion in T+29 days. That sounds a lot more reasonable.

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I am sorry, I should have been clearer. Either way, for those now wondering, here it is explained in detail:

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Those are some pretty cool posters! I am stealing … downloading them even!

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The happiest X-mas I’ve ever had! So glad that it has been finally launched.
As they say JWST is farther than Moon’s orbit now.
Here is the latest news

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Cool posters, thanks for sharing!
They motivate me to study space more and more :slight_smile:

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Just imagine that it accidentally meets an asteroid :grimacing: :grimacing:
Is it actually possible?

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Like a needle in a haystack. Space is big. Really big. Most big things are accounted for. L2 orbital position is well beyond the man-made space junk yard orbiting our planet. I would not lose any sleep over the idea.

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Possible, yes. Probable, no.

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The other side of the Moon

There is an assumption that the Moon is an artificially created celestial body. Some higher intelligence or other more advanced civilization created the Moon for the balance of our planet in outer space, which provided us with life on Earth.
How do you think the exploration of the Moon by humanity can harm this mechanism? And what’s on the other side of the Moon?

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I have no idea who holds that assumption, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t factor into any risk calculations by anybody…

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Nevertheless, I think a lot of people are interested in how the other side of the Moon looks like, and what it can hide

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Uhm… We know what the far side of the moon looks like. Have done for quite some time now. Also, the JW is not exactly optimised for lunar observation, so I doubt its capacity will get abused for that. The moon doesn’t give out that much infrared radiation…

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The far side of the moon is heavily cratered which makes sense.


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SciTechDaily: Due to Precision Launch, NASA Says Webb Space Telescope’s Fuel Likely To Last Way More Than 10 Years.