The mirror array will have to be folded to fit into the Ariane 5 rocket that will launch the Webb into space, departing from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana (South America).
NASA
The rocket will be provided by the European Space Agency (ESA), which along with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is partnering with NASA on the Webb telescope.
NASA
The panels of the mirror are made of beryllium, a metal chosen because it's sturdy and lightweight at the same time.
NASA
The very thin layer of gold that coats the mirror augments reflectivity, helping the telescope to capture more light.
NASA
An artist's impression of the telescope as it will look when deployed to its final position, at the L2 point about one Thank you, that's fixedmillion miles from Earth.
