Scott Nicholas
NASA and Harris have conducted thermal vacuum tests on the future James Webb Space Telescope to evaluate the system’s capacity to operate within the space environment.
Harris said Monday the telescope is designed to function as a space observatory over the next decade and conduct studies on star, planet and galaxy formations.
The telescope will be shipped to California for integration into spacecraft that would complete the observatory, the company noted.
NASA said Monday the future space observatory was placed in a cryogenic vacuum for 100 days since July 10, 2017, where it operated under an extremely cold and airless environment.
Rob Mitrevski, vice president and general manager of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance at Harris’ space and intelligence systems unit, said the JWST mission seeks to increase current knowledge regarding the universe.
Harris helped protect the telescope in Houston, Texas when Hurricane Harvey impacted the region and the company helped ensure continuous testing of the observatory.
The company also designed a multi-wavelength interferometer system as well as installed cryogenic test equipment such as a simulator built to mimic the Sun’s temperature.
