James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

12:20:00

Saturday December 25, 2021

Watch Replay

Official Livestream

Mission Details

Read Article

Launch Notes

Flight VA256. The launch is funded by ESA in exchange for science time on the telescope from NASA.

James Webb Space Telescope

Wiki

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope developed in collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency that will be the scientific successor to the Hubble Space Telescope. The JWST will offer unprecedented resolution and sensitivity and will enable a broad range of investigations across the fields of astronomy and cosmology. One of its major goals is observing some of the most distant events and objects in the universe, such as the formation of the first galaxies. These types of targets are beyond the reach of current ground and space-based instruments. Other goals include understanding the formation of stars and planets, and direct imaging of exoplanets and novas.

Highly Elliptical Orbit

1 Payload

6,161 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Ariane 5 ECA

Active 2002 to 2023

European Space Agency logo

Manufacturer

ESA

Price

$200.00 million

Rocket

Diameter: 5.4m

Height: 53m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 21,000 kg

GTO: 10,500 kg

Liftoff Thrust

15,120 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 5.4m

Height: 17m

Stages

2

Strap-ons

2

Launch Site

ELA-3

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

24 days 3 hours

Stats

Ariane 5


112th

Mission

3rd

Mission of 2021

European Space Agency


289th

Mission

7th

Mission of 2021

2021


138th

Orbital launch attempt