# James Webb Space Telescope general discussion thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** science-math\ **Created:** [December 25, 2021, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624 "2021-12-25T13:18:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/321 "2022-01-23T21:12:21Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > As mentioned already, the total distance changed. When I calculated earlier that it was 95% to L2 the total distance was about > > 898,705 (from my calculator’s register) > > Now it is > > 911,131 > > For a difference of 12,426. So, let’s get back to the important scientific stuff. There’s a scifi/horror plot in the above. What happened during the day JWST went missing? Don’t let the obvious coverup about lags in reporting and calculated versus actual distract you. Watch the skies! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2022, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/322 "2022-01-23T21:22:50Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > What happened during the day JWST went missing? Of course, NASA won’t admit that the real reason for the heat shielding is like Arnie smearing mud on his face, to hide it from Predators. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/323 "2022-01-24T03:33:13Z")
On a more serious note, that heat shield is doing some mighty impressive work. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/324 "2022-01-24T04:25:22Z")
> [@peccavi](#): > > There’s a scifi/horror plot in the above. What happened during the day JWST went missing? It passed through a space-time discontinuum at the L2-adjacent chronosynclastic infundibulum. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/325 "2022-01-24T07:29:48Z")
> [@Bootb](#): > > On a more serious note, that heat shield is doing some mighty impressive work. Yes, a difference of roughly 500 F. Pretty impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/326 "2022-01-24T07:55:07Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > L2-adjacent chronosynclastic infundibulum How curious–I _just_ read that book for the first time the other day. I sense a Tralfamadorian conspiracy of some kind… ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/327 "2022-01-24T08:07:03Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > > [@Senegoid](#): > > > > L2-adjacent chronosynclastic infundibulum > > How curious–I _just_ read that book for the first time the other day. I sense a Tralfamadorian conspiracy of some kind…   The Universal Will To Become (UWTB) is strong in this one! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/328 "2022-01-24T09:33:06Z")
I think we have a solution to the JWST repair problem, if it comes up. We just get some malevolent boy to pick up a piece of scrap metal, have him scrape and bend it whenever possible, maybe found a religion and start an interplanetary war, and after several years the piece will be an exact replacement for what has broken, and manage to be delivered directly to the JWST. There are a few details left to fill in but I feel that the basic principle is sound. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/329 "2022-01-24T13:51:07Z")
JWST is now closer to L2 than i am to New York ! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/330 "2022-01-24T14:45:27Z")
I’m guessing the MCC2 burn and orbital insertion will be early this afternoon,. probably sometime around 2:00 PM EST. It’s so far from the earth now that the deceleration rate has noticeably decreased. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/331 "2022-01-24T14:59:19Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > probably sometime around 2:00 PM EST. That’s the plan according to [this.](https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-to-discuss-webb-s-arrival-at-final-destination-next-steps) Hope the breaks work - it’s still doing 450 MPH !! ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/332 "2022-01-24T15:02:57Z")
Not as impressive as it would be if it was shielding against heat in a decently thick atmosphere. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/333 "2022-01-24T15:29:38Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > Hope the breaks work I think you meant “brakes” ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/334 "2022-01-24T15:35:44Z")
It’s important to take breaks too on such a long journey. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/335 "2022-01-24T15:40:34Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > Hope the breaks work - it’s still doing 450 MPH !! No brakes needed – only a minor trajectory adjustment. Once it reaches the general vicinity of L2, the peculiar gravitational forces at and around L2 will guide it into a gradual orbit around L2 in what looks like a remarkably convoluted fashion! [https://eoportal.org/ftp/satellite-missions/j/JWST\_100122/JWST\_Auto4A.jpeg](https://eoportal.org/ftp/satellite-missions/j/JWST_100122/JWST_Auto4A.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/336 "2022-01-24T17:00:42Z")
Just watched it count down to less than 1000 miles remaining! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/337 "2022-01-24T17:36:47Z")
Tracking website now shows L2 burn activities under way. I believe these are currently still just preparatory and planning activities. Nominal distance remaining: about 700 miles. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/338 "2022-01-24T19:03:27Z")
it just jumped again …67 miles to go ! ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/339 "2022-01-24T19:05:02Z")
Maybe because they did a burn? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2022, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624/340 "2022-01-24T19:07:01Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > JWST is now closer to L2 than i am to New York ! To nitpick, the planned orbit is of the order of 500,000km in average diameter, so I assume the distance countdown is being measured to the insertion point, presumably quite a long way from L2 itself. ETA: I see @wolfpup put up a picture [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-webb-space-telescope-general-discussion-thread/956624.md?page=18)