NASA Reveals Superpowered Telescope

Giant camera will replace Hubble, see across universe
By Greg Atwan,  Newser Staff
Posted May 11, 2007 4:38 PM CDT
NASA Reveals Superpowered Telescope
Eta Carina - Death star? Illustration by Nasa   (http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/images/eta_car_pix/eta_laser_big.jpg)

NASA has uncovered a prototype for a new telescope that will outmagnify the dominant Hubble. The James Webb Space Telescope will cost $4.5 billion and float nearly a million miles from Earth when it launches in six years; its supercharged hexagonal mirror will transmit images of the farthest and oldest corners of the universe.

And punctually, at that: Engineers are optimistic that the telescope, which will employ a lens three times the size of the greying Hubble's, will in fact shoot into space by its target of 2013. "There's engineering to do," a contractor says, "but invention is done, more than six years ahead of launch." (More NASA stories.)

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