James Webb Space Telescope mock-up - A Meeting of Minds

StevenB · Mar 12 2011, 11:05 AM

Here is a full-sized mock-up of the James Webb Space Telescope which was on display at the CEA in Saclay (near Paris, France) where I visited last week for a meeting:

This is just a mock-up of the main parts of the telescope, not including the enormous sun shield. The main mirror is 6 metres across and made of 18 hexagonal segments. Just standing next to and walking around this model gave me the impression of how huge this telescope will be. It will be launched thousands of miles into space, folded up, and the mirror will be automatically unfolded when the telescope reaches its destination. Anyone who has struggled with a tent will know how hard that can be.

GinnyStar · Mar 12 2011, 04:19 PM

I know the feeling, we had a home-made build ice fishing shantty, get wet once and froze overnight, and my father about lost his temper on trying to open it up.

last time he did that, he left parked inside after that.

Its looks like a sled, when you can't get your transportation on the ice, my father and a friend when early ice fishing, on a place call Shadow Lake, one of the homeowner, on the hillside that looking on to the lake, saw at first two men walking with a sled and their extra fishing stuff on top, next time he looked there was no sled, but a shanty, and he had to come oui and see for him self!

Sandi · Mar 12 2011, 08:16 PM

That's awesome, Steven! Looking at the furnishings and the nearby people gives a perspective on the size of the thing. Wow. I know what you mean about the tent thing. I had a little dome tent I used to time myself on setting up on my own but the 2-room, while a lot more "user friendly" once up, took at least two people to get standing straight. I hope that thing works more like my little dome!

Lady Maelin · Mar 13 2011, 01:14 AM

WOW...thats going to be huge when it get out there into space...lets hope everything goes well and that it opens up as it's suppose to.
Do you know where it's going to be pointed...what do they hope to get a better look at?

***Hans*** · Mar 13 2011, 12:03 PM

Very interesting and impressive, Steven. It indeed helps to get an idea of the scale of the thing. Thank you for posting the picture!

Samsara · Mar 13 2011, 09:58 PM

Thats amazing Steven! Very impressive. I love the way it is picking up those reflections. It looks like a piece of Art!

jube · Mar 14 2011, 12:31 AM

What they all said, Steven. Puts everything into perspective with the mock-up next to the people - well done

I like it

Nina · Mar 18 2011, 06:03 AM

What scientists can do with a few sticks and some tin foil

Sorry, this tickles my funnybone - tents unfolding out in the universe

ducking

***Hans*** · Mar 18 2011, 09:55 AM

I think what you see is actually a bunch of reflections, Nina

Mar 12 2011, 11:05 AM	#1
StevenB Bitsmith/Starsmith, Master Sneak Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scotland Gender: M Fan of: Skies of Pern: what else? Now Reading: My computer screen	James Webb Space Telescope mock-up Here is a full-sized mock-up of the James Webb Space Telescope which was on display at the CEA in Saclay (near Paris, France) where I visited last week for a meeting: This is just a mock-up of the main parts of the telescope, not including the enormous sun shield. The main mirror is 6 metres across and made of 18 hexagonal segments. Just standing next to and walking around this model gave me the impression of how huge this telescope will be. It will be launched thousands of miles into space, folded up, and the mirror will be automatically unfolded when the telescope reaches its destination. Anyone who has struggled with a tent will know how hard that can be. __________________ Steven

Mar 12 2011, 04:19 PM	#2
GinnyStar Dolphineer Craftmaster Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Wausau, WI USA, Central Standard Time Gender: F Fan of: Pern, other SF works Now Reading: Dragonback Bargain	Re: James Webb Space Telescope mock-up I know the feeling, we had a home-made build ice fishing shantty, get wet once and froze overnight, and my father about lost his temper on trying to open it up. last time he did that, he left parked inside after that. Its looks like a sled, when you can't get your transportation on the ice, my father and a friend when early ice fishing, on a place call Shadow Lake, one of the homeowner, on the hillside that looking on to the lake, saw at first two men walking with a sled and their extra fishing stuff on top, next time he looked there was no sled, but a shanty, and he had to come oui and see for him self! __________________ Lover s s, s and friends Lover of and beads, http://www.change.org/profiles/GinnyStar Dragoncave GinnyStar2 Jellied Dragons Lair of Dragons http://dragcave.net/user/GinnyStar2 Thanks! Others: None at this time WIP http://archiveofourown.org/works/252259 http://www.daisy.org/learning-difficulties

Mar 12 2011, 08:16 PM	#3
Sandi Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Gender: F	Re: James Webb Space Telescope mock-up That's awesome, Steven! Looking at the furnishings and the nearby people gives a perspective on the size of the thing. Wow. I know what you mean about the tent thing. I had a little dome tent I used to time myself on setting up on my own but the 2-room, while a lot more "user friendly" once up, took at least two people to get standing straight. I hope that thing works more like my little dome!

Mar 13 2011, 01:14 AM	#4
Lady Maelin Master Artist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: California Gender: F Fan of: Pern,The Ship Who Sang Now Reading: Anne's Pern EVERYTHING !	Re: James Webb Space Telescope mock-up WOW...thats going to be huge when it get out there into space...lets hope everything goes well and that it opens up as it's suppose to. Do you know where it's going to be pointed...what do they hope to get a better look at? __________________ "To the Horsehead Nebula and back we shall make beautiful music"..."Together!" The stories of childhood leave an indelible impression,and their author always has a niche in the temple of memory from which the image is never cut out to be thrown on the rubbish heap of things that are outgrown and outlived........Howard Pyle

Mar 13 2011, 12:03 PM	#5
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern!	Re: James Webb Space Telescope mock-up Very interesting and impressive, Steven. It indeed helps to get an idea of the scale of the thing. Thank you for posting the picture! __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines.

Mar 13 2011, 09:58 PM	#6
Samsara Dragon Healer Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Perth, Australia Gender: F Fan of: PERN!!! Now Reading: Restoree	Re: James Webb Space Telescope mock-up Thats amazing Steven! Very impressive. I love the way it is picking up those reflections. It looks like a piece of Art!

Mar 14 2011, 12:31 AM	#7
jube Dolphineer Journeywoman Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Australia Gender: F Fan of: Dragons of Pern Now Reading: Puzzles and my thesaurus!	Re: James Webb Space Telescope mock-up What they all said, Steven. Puts everything into perspective with the mock-up next to the people - well done I like it __________________ Dolphineer Journeywoman and part-time researcher.... Find me on ebay..... Here'tis!

Mar 18 2011, 06:03 AM	#8
Nina Talent Finder Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Denmark Gender: F Fan of: The Talent series Now Reading: almost a book a day	Re: James Webb Space Telescope mock-up What scientists can do with a few sticks and some tin foil Sorry, this tickles my funnybone - tents unfolding out in the universe ducking __________________ Nina The Rowan is my favourite! "The name rowan is believed to derive from the Norse runa - "a charm". It was often planted outside houses to ward off witches. On May Day a spray of rowan leaves was hung over doors to repel evil, and wells dressed with rowan to keep witches away. The rowan, or mountain ash, is found commonly in Scotland, sometimes clinging to a rock face."

Mar 18 2011, 09:55 AM	#9
*Hans* Master Archivist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The Netherlands Gender: M Fan of: Pern!	Re: James Webb Space Telescope mock-up I think what you see is actually a bunch of reflections, Nina __________________ Hans, also known as Elrhan, Master Archivist Visit The Pern Museum & Archives for all your Pern and Anne McCaffrey News and Resources! The Pern Museum & Archives is the home of the Pern Encyclopedia and the Pern Bloodlines.

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