NASA is preparing to begin scientific operations on the nearly-complete James Webb Space Telescope, which was launched from Earth on Christmas Day, 2021.

The $10 billion space observatory has been in construction since 2004 and has been beset by several challenges, but the mission was ultimately accomplished when Webb was launched from Earth and placed in a precise orbit around the Sun one million miles away. 

The observatory is equipped with instruments of the next generation, which, according to officials, will “unfold the universe” by enabling scientists to look far further back in time than was previously conceivable.

NASA has outfitted Webb with planet-examining tools that are mainly geared to examine exoplanets and identify their atmospheres. Webb will also be able to look farther than any space telescope that has come before it.

NASA officials claim that Webb is capable of addressing some of the most fundamental scientific questions, such as “Where do we come from?” with the use of these devices and several other extremely sophisticated pieces of technology. Or, is there another “Earth” that supports life? Bill Nelson, the administrator of NASA, said that Webb would answer questions for which we do not even know the questions.

NASA deputy administrator Pam Melroy recently disclosed that the launch of Webb was executed so flawlessly that the spacecraft’s expected lifespan increased by 10 years, bringing NASA’s overall life expectancy to 20 years. 

On July 12, according to NASA’s senior scientist, Thomas Zurbuchen, the agency will release Webb’s first spectroscopy of a distant exoplanet. NASA can expect a comprehensive investigation of the target planet’s atmosphere using Webb’s sensor, which will disclose specific features of the planet, such as the existence of water or its surface attributes.

“Not only will those 20 years allow us to go deeper into history, and time, but we will go deeper into science because we have the opportunity to learn and grow and make new observations,” said Pam Melroy, NASA’s deputy administrator.

Notably, NASA stated recently that one of Webb’s four principal scientific instruments has finished testing and is now ready for science operations. The NASA engineers have given the scientific operations their OK.

NASA has revealed that they’ll put their finding in front of the public on July 12, they’ll also reveal the deepest view of the Universe as well.

Reference(s): Phys.org