Quote:
Originally Posted by Fish
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.
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.