To: rachel.feltman@popsci.

com

Subject: James Webb Telescope

For Immediate Release

Nov. 6, 2016

NASA Builds the World’s Largest Telescope to Replace the Hubble

GREENBELT, Md. –NASA announced the completion of the world’s largest telescope, the
James Webb Telescope, at a press conference Nov. 2 that will replace the famous Hubble. After
nearly 20 years of construction, the telescope will launch Oct. 2018.

“The James Webb is revolutionary because it will have the ability to look further into deep space
to hunt for the formation of the first galaxies, stars and planets,” said Senior Project Scientist,
John Mather. “Because we will be able to look through 13 billion years of space, we will literally
be looking into the past.”

The James Webb is an infrared telescope with 18 gold-coated, hexagonal plates and a 21-foot
arrangement of mirrors. It’s primary mirror measures 6.5 meters across.

“The telescope is about as wide as a tennis court and about as tall as a three-story building,” said
Project Manager, Bill Ochs.

The James Webb will launch on an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana and will be placed 1
million miles away from the Earth. The telescope will orbit the sun, unlike the Hubble that
orbited the Earth.

The telescope will undergo testing for the next two years. The public can watch the testing
progress on the Goddard Space Flight Center’s website.

Since its inception in 1958, NASA has accomplished many great scientific and technological
feats in air and space. NASA technology also has been adapted for many nonaerospace uses by
the private sector. NASA remains a leading force in scientific research and in stimulating public
interest in aerospace exploration, as well as science and technology in general.

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For More Information:

Lynn Chandler
JWST Communications
(301) 286-2806
lynn.chandler-1@nasa.gov