By 
December 24th, 2021
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
Arianespace’s Ariane 5 rocket with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope onboard is at the launch pad at Europe’s Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.
The $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large infrared telescope with a 21.3 foot (6.5 meter) primary mirror. The observatory will study every phase of cosmic history—from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe.
The European Space Agency (ESA) will provide coverage of the launch activities for the JWST, the world’s largest and most powerful space science telescope.
Webb is targeted to be launched at 12:20 GMT/13.20 CET on Saturday, December 25, 2021 on an ESA-provided Ariane 5 rocket. The Webb mission is a partnership of ESA, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Live launch coverage
Live launch coverage in English will begin at 12.00 CET on ESA WebTV and on ESA’s Youtube channel.
Go to: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/ESA_Web_TV
ESA Web TV channel 2 will carry the launch coverage in French, which is a simultaneous translation of the English broadcast from 32 minutes before launch until end of the broadcast.
As soon as possible after the TV transmission, launch highlights will be posted on ESA TV ftp server: tvdownload.esa.int/
Login: esa
Password: ftp4esa
Credit: ESA
On launch day, a “clean feed” of the launch without commentary will be available by satellite via Eurovision Services. The uplink will begin at 12.50 CET and continues for 40 minutes after launch. Four audio channels will be available: English commentary, Spanish commentary, French translation and operational audio only.
More information can be found on:
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Transmissions/2021/12/James_Webb_Space_Telescope_live_launch
Post-launch media briefing
ESA, NASA, CSA and Arianespace will hold a post-launch news conference approximately 30 minutes after the live launch broadcast ends on December 25.
The briefing will stream on ESA WebTV: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/ESA_Web_TV
Posted in Space News
