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Max Planck Institute for Astronomy - Annual Report 2005

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Earth = Launch (L)<br />

Trajectory correction<br />

maneuver 1<br />

L + 15 hrs<br />

Sunshield<br />

deployment<br />

L + 2 days<br />

384 000 km<br />

Telescope<br />

deployment<br />

L + 4 days<br />

Observatory<br />

available <strong>for</strong><br />

ISIM activities<br />

L + 70 days<br />

Observatory<br />

»first light« (ISIM at safe<br />

operating temp)<br />

L + 59 days<br />

Moon<br />

Fig. IV.1.9: Timetable <strong>for</strong> the flight of JWST to its orbit around<br />

the Lagrangian Point L2. After 119 days (launch � 109 days)<br />

the final orbit is reached. A few days later the test operation of<br />

the instruments will begin.<br />

� 1500000 km<br />

impacts of micro-meteorites, the solar wind, cosmic rays,<br />

extreme temperature variations and manifold mechanical<br />

stresses in order to ensure the millionfold radiation reduction<br />

over the entire duration of the mission.<br />

The cameras of Miri, however, have to be cooled to<br />

– 268 °C (about 5 K). Here a decisive modification in<br />

the development took place in <strong>2005</strong>. Up to then work<br />

on a cryostat with solid hydrogen was in progress. With<br />

this simple and well-proven technique a just sufficient<br />

operating temperature of – 267 °C could be achieved.<br />

But in view of the desired weight cuts the cryostat<br />

soon appeared to be too heavy. There<strong>for</strong>e a mechanical<br />

cooling machine was chosen. The motor-driven first<br />

compressor stage will be placed on the satellite part of<br />

JWST and linked to the cooling head in Miri by flexible<br />

pipes. In principle this technique has advantages: lower<br />

temperatures, lower masses, almost unlimited operation<br />

times … . On the other hand there are risks concerning<br />

time, costs <strong>for</strong> development and testing, and the use of<br />

this new technique <strong>for</strong> a flagship mission without any<br />

possibility <strong>for</strong> maintenance or replacement. If this active<br />

cooling proves a success with JWST it probably will be<br />

used in many future missions.<br />

The involvement in the JWST mission offers the MPIA<br />

the chance to carry on in its tradition of interesting technological<br />

developments in infrared instrumentation, and<br />

guarantees participation in the most exciting scientific<br />

IV.1 Instruments <strong>for</strong> the James Webb Space Telescope 95<br />

L2 orbit<br />

achieved<br />

L + 109 days<br />

Trajectory<br />

correction<br />

maneuver 2<br />

(if required)<br />

L + 25 days<br />

L2<br />

Initiate ISIM<br />

testing and<br />

certification<br />

L + 113 days<br />

� 374000 km<br />

Lissajous-loops<br />

Fig. IV.1.10: For launch, the 6.5 m-telescope and its multi-layered<br />

radiation shield more than 30 m across have to be folded<br />

many times in order to be stowed within the 5 m wide nose<br />

cone of the ariaNe 5 rocket. Two days after launch, during the<br />

journey to L2, the unfolding process is started.

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