If it makes you feel any better (probably not), the launch itself is like 1/10th of the situations where it can go wrong. This one's gonna be nerve-wracking until it's operational in (hopefully) 6 months or so.

Anyone awake? I'm half asleep, but here we go.

watching now @NASAWebb

Man, you get spoiled by SpaceX broadcasts. Lost in the clouds after about 15 seconds, so animation it is.

So far, so good. Back to sleep.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The James <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Webb?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Webb</a> Space Telescope lifted off on <a href="https://twitter.com/ariane5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ariane5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VA256?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VA256</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/EuropeSpacePort?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuropeSpacePort</a> in French Guiana, at 12:20 GMT/13:20 CET on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChristmasDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChristmasDay</a>, 25 December 2021, on its exciting mission to unlock the secrets of the Universe �� <a href="https://t.co/AAXaP9IxVZ">https://t.co/AAXaP9IxVZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/7LcLOwR9xq">pic.twitter.com/7LcLOwR9xq</a></p>&mdash; ESA (@esa) <a href="https://twitter.com/esa/status/1474729414009229312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

One last look, before it treads where we can't see it.

<iframe width="1427" height="570" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lB1B3WzO7Vk" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Where's the Webb? Good info tracker:

https://www.jwst.nasa.gov/content/we...ereIsWebb.html

same thing only embedded in youtube with soothing background sounds :D

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vFBGNjAP7wg" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Some pretty big critical steps have been completed with very good results. Very good sign. Starting to ease my worry just a little bit....

Second and Third Layers of Sunshield Fully Tightened

The Webb team has completed tensioning for the first three layers of the observatory’s kite-shaped sunshield, 47 feet across and 70 feet long.

The first layer – pulled fully taut into its final configuration – was completed mid-afternoon.

The team began the second layer at 4:09 pm EST today, and the process took 74 minutes. The third layer began at 5:48 pm EST, and the process took 71 minutes. In all, the tensioning process from the first steps this morning until the third layer achieved tension took just over five and a half hours.

These three layers are the ones closest to the Sun. Tensioning of the final two layers is planned for tomorrow.

Only like 250 more things that can go wrong. ROFL

But you're not wrong. We're at least confident that the launch went great and that it's in good shape overall. Fingers crossed there are no whammies hiding in there.

Things have went very well so far, they should continue to do so. Trust the science... :thumb:

Every day provides a little bit more confidence...

<samp class="EmbedCode-container"><code class="EmbedCode-code"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is it: we’ve just wrapped up one of the most challenging steps of our journey to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnfoldTheUniverse?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnfoldTheUniverse</a>.<br><br>With all five layers of sunshield tensioning complete, about 75% of our 344 single-point failures have been retired! <a href="https://t.co/P9jJhu7bJX">pic.twitter.com/P9jJhu7bJX</a></p>&mdash; NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1478412564983959553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </code></samp>

Damn, that's a lot more boxes checked than I would have guessed!