JWST Countdown To Terror 😳

[Macavity]

Working on it must be like (reluctant) "Surgery on Famous People"? 🙀

Trying not to think of precedents... Let hope the temperatures are not
getting too low? Though I suppose it will have to get used to that... 🥶

[david_taurus83]

I honestly think (and hope!) everything will be OK. They are basically launching a satellite which is built on current knowledge and experience. Sending rovers to Mars and getting them to work seems much more complex. 

[gilesco]

1 hour ago, david_taurus83 said:

I honestly think (and hope!) everything will be OK. They are basically launching a satellite which is built on current knowledge and experience. Sending rovers to Mars and getting them to work seems much more complex. 

JWST will not orbit the Earth, it will orbit the sun at L2, it is unlikely that if anything goes wrong, or if something doesn't work that we could do what we did with Hubble and go out and fix it.

[david_taurus83]

1 hour ago, gilesco said:

JWST will not orbit the Earth, it will orbit the sun at L2, it is unlikely that if anything goes wrong, or if something doesn't work that we could do what we did with Hubble and go out and fix it.

Yes, I know that but it is still essentially a satellite launch, albeit a very expensive one! 

[tomato]

I don’t think there is any way they’ll say Go! unless they are 100% happy. They can de-fuel the scope and rocket but if they lose the payload, that’s it.

But like everyone else, I’d love to see it launch safely on Friday.

Thanks for the heads up on tracking it’s trajectory, I’ll give it a go if the clouds go away.

[Gfamily]

With a current adverse weather forecast for Friday, the target launch date has now been put back to Saturday. Launch window remains at 12:20 UTC. 

The forecast will be reviewed again on Wednesday

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Webb_new_target_launch_date 

[Nicola Fletcher]

Weather doesn’t look much better on Saturday- still, better to postpone as they only get one chance at this!

[Alan White]

Shows it is not just Astronomy here in the UK that gets messed up by the weather!
A move of date with such a precious cargo is clearly the sensible option to take.

 

[kirkster501]

Definitely.  After all this time we can wait for a few more days.  I was all ready to rock for Friday though and planned around watching the live launch.  It'll be a bit more tricky watching it preparing the turkey on Saturday if it launches then 🙈

[UKDiver]

On 22/12/2021 at 08:22, Nicola Fletcher said:

Weather doesn’t look much better on Saturday- still, better to postpone as they only get one chance at this!

 

I can see them delaying at least a week. No idea if that means draining the fuel etc.

[Gfamily]

According to a tweet from Mark McCaughrean  (@markmccaughrean), the rain wasn't a particular problem, but the wind direction would have been.

A northerly wind on Friday meant it wouldn't be safe to launch then, but the direction is due to change by Saturday.

Mark McCaughrean is the Senior Advisor for Science & Exploration at ESA; well worth following if you're on Twitter, and a great speaker if you ever get s chance to hear him. 

[Nicola Fletcher]

9 hours ago, Gfamily said:

According to a tweet from Mark McCaughrean  (@markmccaughrean), the rain wasn't a particular problem, but the wind direction would have been.

A northerly wind on Friday meant it wouldn't be safe to launch then, but the direction is due to change by Saturday.

Mark McCaughrean is the Senior Advisor for Science & Exploration at ESA; well worth following if you're on Twitter, and a great speaker if you ever get s chance to hear him. 

That sounds like good news- really hoping for a safe launch on Saturday! 
I’ll follow Mark McCaughrean now 😊

[kirkster501]

It is on the pad now.
I shall watch the launch whilst making Xmas dinner so watch out for the burnt roast potatoes 🥔🤣

[tomato]

We are  travelling to family for our Christmas dinner so will potentially be on the road at lift off, I'll just pull over to watch it go.🚀

[Sunshine]

I have been following progress for about 7 years now, I am so excited about the launch I have butterflies in my gut.

[kirkster501]

I've delayed family members coming over for 30 mins so I can watch it.  And they've been very supportive.

[kirkster501]

Just now, Sunshine said:

I have been following progress for about 7 years now, I am so excited about the launch I have butterflies in my gut.

Me too.  So scary.  It all comes down to this! 

[UKDiver]

3 minutes ago, Sunshine said:

I have been following progress for about 7 years now, I am so excited about the launch I have butterflies in my gut.

The butterflies in my gut have butterflies in theirs!

 

[JeremyS]

1 hour ago, UKDiver said:

The butterflies in my gut have butterflies in theirs!

 

And I was thinking it was the Brussels sprouts …

[tomato]

As Tom Hanks (as Jim Lovell) said in Apollo 13, “Just breath normal, fellas”.

The Ariane 5 has a commendable successful launch record.

There, I’ve said it now…

[Alien 13]

14 minutes ago, tomato said:

As Tom Hanks (as Jim Lovell) said in Apollo 13, “Just breath normal, fellas”.

The Ariane 5 has a commendable successful launch record.

There, I’ve said it now…

I am scared now, would feel safer with a Musk or Russian launch 😱

Alan

[gilesco]

I'll stream it from the office, far enough from the leg of lamb I  the kitchen...

[Ian McCallum]

I just hope it doesn't end up like one of the infamous Ariane rocket failures. 😟

[Ags]

Ariane has a superb launch record, the bigger risk is surely when JWST goes all origami in deep space.

[UKDiver]

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

And I was thinking it was the Brussels sprouts …

Not yet. 😀