James Webb Space Telescope : An Incident has Occurred Delaying the Launch

It's probably nothing to worry about (he said with fingers crossed) but an incident has occurred during Webb’s launch preparations , a clamp securing Webb to the launch vehicle adapter released unexpectedly causing a vibration through the telescope which may have damaged Webb's sensitive equipment , NASA will now spend a few extra days investigating to check the vibration didn't cause any damage which will delay the launch.

Launch is now scheduled for no sooner than December 22nd.

The incident occurred during operations at the satellite preparation facility in Kourou, French Guiana, performed under Arianespace overall responsibility. Technicians were preparing to attach Webb to the launch vehicle adapter, which is used to integrate the observatory with the upper stage of the Ariane 5 rocket. A sudden, unplanned release of a clamp band – which secures Webb to the launch vehicle adapter – caused a vibration throughout the observatory.

A NASA-led anomaly review board was immediately convened to investigate and instituted additional testing to determine with certainty the incident did not damage any components. NASA and its mission partners will provide an update when the testing is completed at the end of this week.
blogs.nasa.gov...

It'll be fine , there's nothing to worry about .....

a reply to: gortex

Can't wait for this to blow up on the rocket ! James Webb Has been a massive waste of time , money and resources ..

Will be glorious when this project fails and future projects are halted citing james webb disaster

a reply to: seedofchucky

Shows what a sad person you are then doesn't it.

a reply to: gortex

D’oh!!

What is a few more months between friends!!

At this point, I will be surprised if it launches this year!

Time to cross check the launch windows with major Egyptian ritual dates to see when the real launch will happen!

If it pleases Osiris…

a reply to: gortex

It's hard to believe a vibration because of a clamp would damage the telescope. Vibrations during launch would have to be much worse. Better safe than sorry I suppose.

originally posted by: seedofchucky
a reply to: gortex

Can't wait for this to blow up on the rocket ! James Webb Has been a massive waste of time , money and resources ..

Will be glorious when this project fails and future projects are halted citing james webb disaster

How can it be a waste when it hasn't even been launched?
Hubble far exceeded expectations and lasted for thirty years.
I can't think of a NASA program that has gotten more bang for the buck than Hubble.

originally posted by: TEOTWAWKIAIFF
a reply to: gortex

D’oh!!

What is a few more months between friends!!

At this point, I will be surprised if it launches this year!

Time to cross check the launch windows with major Egyptian ritual dates to see when the real launch will happen!

If it pleases Osiris…

Ummm...C'mon man...the telescope is only...EIGHT YEARS...behind launch schedule...

What's another decade...or two...



YouSir

a reply to: gortex

Must have been a hell of a "vibration"!!!

If they don't consider the actual launch process itself a "vibration", then I guess I don't know what a vibration is! From some of the people I've talked to, a space launch is about the single most violent experience a person will ever experience without being in some sort of a massive crash. Maybe some of the newer lift vehicles are smoother, but the Space Shuttle was not a smooth ride to orbit by any stretch of imagination!

One Shuttle astronaut I talked to said MECO was like getting thrown through a car windshield at Mach 23 except you were strapped in. That kind of power and acceleration just blows my mind.

ETA - I see Bluntone had a similar comment to mine (while I was typing).

I was thinking the same thing. Surely it can withstand a little rattle getting blasted into space on top of a rocket.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

They're more worried about this vibration than the ones from going up?

That tells folks a bit, actually. I take this to mean it didn't so much as "unexpectedly release", as outright break.

And probably violently.

Considering the likely amount of force being used to hold JWST immobile via those clamps, it does have the potential for being a bigger vibration than we give it credit for.

Papagallo :
How 's the rig ?
Zetta:
[shouting to the mechanics] The rig! How is she?
Mechanic :
[to his assistant] It 's got a cracked timing case cover and it 's broken a couple of teeth off the timing gear .
Mechanic 's Assistant :
[shouting to Zetta ] It 's got a cracked timing case cover, it 's broken a couple of teeth off the timing gear ...
Mechanic :
The radiator 's damaged to the core.
Mechanic 's Assistant :
.. .the radiator 's damaged to the core .. .
Mechanic :
It 's got a cracked water pump.
Mechanic 's Assistant :
.. .it 's got a cracked water pump. ..
Mechanic :
A fractured injector line.
Mechanic 's Assistant :
.. .it 's got a fractured injector line!
Papagallo :
Well , what does all that mean?
Zetta:
[shouting to the mechanics] Yeah , okay , but what does that mean?
Mechanic 's Assistant :
[to the Mechanic ] What does that mean?
Mechanic :
Twenty four hours.
Mechanic 's Assistant :
[to Papagallo ] Twenty four hours?
Papagallo :
[after a pause ] They' ve got twelve!
Zetta:
[to the mechanics] You've got twelve !
Mechanic :
Okay .
Mechanic 's Assistant :
[to Zetta ] Okay !

There's that positive, "we can do" attitude I love.

I'd expect the same attitude from someone who perhaps believes the Earth is flat.

a reply to: seedofchucky

There was a time things like this were headlines on the news....I miss those days....

a reply to: gortex

Off topic I'm on a cell phone. So I'm sharing this to you because this is your gig. Sorry,Thanks, Star & Flag.

originally posted by: Bluntone22
a reply to: gortex

It's hard to believe a vibration because of a clamp would damage the telescope. Vibrations during launch would have to be much worse. Better safe than sorry I suppose.

They probably use a sophisticated shock absorption system when in flight , fully clamped in the top stage fairings.

The risk is in these kinds of accidents wich they did not factor into the equation.

a reply to: seedofchucky

Don't you like to learn new things about the universe?

Why would you wish to see such a wonderous endeavour fail?

That's just sick really.

I'm still Laughlin @universal exploration.

They can't even run countries or get on with each other.

They haven't even made it out of the solar system alive. let alone explored the spiral galaxy.

They still think UFO's and UAP's are from billions of years @ light speed away.

You Earthlings are disgusting yet hilarious at the same time.

a reply to: infiniteMeow

originally posted by: seedofchucky
a reply to: gortex

Can't wait for this to blow up on the rocket ! James Webb Has been a massive waste of time , money and resources ..

Will be glorious when this project fails and future projects are halted citing james webb disaster

Seriously? This invention will be a game changer.

Gaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!

Yes, I physically screamed that when I read your post.