Start me up! NASA worry about James Webb Space Telescope now almost over

NASA has revealed that the James Webb Space Telescope has reached a huge milestone in the space agency's bid to explore deep space as it completed its alignment process. This means NASA can now capture sharp images going way back in time and space- farther back than ever before.

FILE PHOTO: The James Webb Space Telescope is packed up for shipment to its launch site in Kourou, French Guiana in an undated photograph at Northrop Grumman's Space Park in Redondo Beach, California. NASA/Chris Gunn/Handout via REUTERS MANDATORY CREDIT. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY./File Photo (via REUTERS)

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1/5 FILE PHOTO: The James Webb Space Telescope is packed up for shipment to its launch site in Kourou, French Guiana in an undated photograph at Northrop Grumman's Space Park in Redondo Beach, California. NASA/Chris Gunn/Handout via REUTERS MANDATORY CREDIT. THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY./File Photo (via REUTERS)

According to space.com, This move will now enable NASA to begin instrument commissioning, entering a new preparation phase. The alignment process took several months to successfully align the mirrors and instruments. (AFP)

2/5 According to space.com, This move will now enable NASA to begin instrument commissioning, entering a new preparation phase. The alignment process took several months to successfully align the mirrors and instruments. (AFP)

Scott Acton, Webb wavefront sensing and controls scientist at Ball Aerospace, said in the NASA statement, "These images have profoundly changed the way I see the universe. We are surrounded by a symphony of creation; there are galaxies everywhere. It is my hope that everyone in the world can see them.” (NASA)

3/5 Scott Acton, Webb wavefront sensing and controls scientist at Ball Aerospace, said in the NASA statement, "These images have profoundly changed the way I see the universe. We are surrounded by a symphony of creation; there are galaxies everywhere. It is my hope that everyone in the world can see them.” (NASA)

The James Webb Space Telescope was a $10 billion project which was launched on December 25, 2021. "The optical performance of the telescope continues to be better than the engineering team's most optimistic predictions," NASA officials said in the statement, noting that the image quality of the telescope is only "diffraction limited." (AP)

4/5 The James Webb Space Telescope was a $10 billion project which was launched on December 25, 2021. "The optical performance of the telescope continues to be better than the engineering team's most optimistic predictions," NASA officials said in the statement, noting that the image quality of the telescope is only "diffraction limited." (AP)

The telescope will still need further calibrations. NASA officials said, "The telescope will be commanded to point to different areas in the sky, where the total amount of solar radiation hitting the observatory will vary to confirm thermal stability when changing targets. Furthermore, ongoing maintenance observations every two days will monitor the mirror alignment and, when needed, apply corrections to keep the mirrors in their aligned locations.” (AP)

5/5 The telescope will still need further calibrations. NASA officials said, "The telescope will be commanded to point to different areas in the sky, where the total amount of solar radiation hitting the observatory will vary to confirm thermal stability when changing targets. Furthermore, ongoing maintenance observations every two days will monitor the mirror alignment and, when needed, apply corrections to keep the mirrors in their aligned locations.” (AP)