14 DAY TRIAL // Experts working on constructing the next-generation NASA space telescope say that the spacecraft's sunshield, an essential component in the mission, has just passed another series of critical review tests.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is planned as a replacement for the Hubble Space Telescope, and it is widely considered to be the most complex instrument of its kind ever built.
One of the most intriguing technologies in JWST's arsenal of innovation is the sunshield design. This protective layer is meant to prevent sunlight from penetrating the satellite's sensitive light detectors.
NASA has never commissioned the construction of such a complex sunshield before, and most of the technologies that were used in its manufacturing are brand new, Space Fellowship reports.
“While adequate venting is a design consideration for all spaceflight hardware, this was a particularly unique challenge for the sunshield given the large volume of trapped air in the membrane system at launch,” explains expert Keith Parrish.
“From the beginning of its development venting features have been a critical part of the overall sunshield design,” he goes on to say.
“Since we cannot vent test the actual flight article these test have shown the design works and the sunshield will vent safely on its way to orbit,” the scientist adds.
Parrish is the JWST sunshield manager, and he is based at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), in Greenbelt, Maryland.
The expert explains that the heatshield will have the critical function of helping JWST's cooling system keep the observatory frozen at 50 degrees Kelvin (minus 369.7 degrees Fahrenheit).
According to Parrish, the heatshield is constructed out of five layers of Kapton ®E material, alongisde aluminum and doped-silicon coatings. These materials will help reflect sunlight back into space.
“This is another significant risk reduction activity that continues to move sunshield development forward,” says official Scott Willoughby.
“We have demonstrated the effectiveness of our sunshield vent design,” says Willoughby, who is the JWST program manager at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems.
The company is one of the main contractors for the mission. It is leading the design and development of the JWST for the Goddard Space Flight Center.
The telescope itself is developed with support from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).