James Webb Space Telescope out on launch pad ahead of Christmas Day liftoff

The James Webb Space Telescope has been deployed on the launch pad before the Christmas liftoff which will take place at 5:50 PM. Reportedly, the telescope is set on top of Europe’s most powerful Ariane-5 rocket that will take I to the concerned orbit which is 1.5 million kilometres away from the Earth.

The aircraft was rolled out from the final assembly building Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana after several months following in arrival via sailing in Panama. The fairing enclosing the telescope onboard Arian-5 is being looked after with specialised environmental controls that keep the observatory in the appropriate temperature and humidity range.

Ariana-5 measure 53 metres in high, stands on its mobile launch platform along with rails from the final preparation building to the launch zone where final health checks and preparations for liftoff are under process. The launch will take place on December 25, while the rocket will be filled with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen via lines through the launch table.

Besides, the European Space Agency stated that the last electrical and software configurations will take place at the launch pad.

The team on the other hand will focus on electrical diagnostics to ensure all lights are green for launch. Engineers will power on the observatory at the launch pad to operate a final aliveness test to ensure all systems have power and are working before the final liftoff. With 20 minutes before, the Webb will switch to internal battery power and within 15 minutes before liftoff, the observatory and its launch vehicle will be open for flight.

The Ariane-5 will be deploying the Webb telescope into the second Lagrange point (L2), a location that is four times far away from Moon and 1.5 million kilometres away from the Earth. The telescope will be at the six-month commissioning period after being stationed following a 26-minute ride abroad the Ariane-5 launch vehicle.