How James Webb's Deployments MUST Work

🔴Port mirror wing deployment has begun! The wing only needs about 5 minutes to rotate into position, but will need at least two hours to latch it into place. That's probably why the starboard wing doesn't open until tomorrow. But we're on the final approach to an unfolded telescope!

🔴 UPDATE: JWST's forward and aft UPS' deployed (and I updated the thumbnail of this video because I'm a total nerd)!!!!

I worked on the sunshields for this amazing project. Particularly on seaming the Kapton film together into 3d shapes, and also packaging and deployment. Truly an honor to work on.

🔴UPDATE: The sunshield covers have been released and rolled back to their staging position. This procedure alone required several mechanisms to fire just exactly right and they did! Thumbnail updated :)

🔴 UPDATE: The Deployable Tower Assembly (DTA) successful! Thumbnail updated :)

I'm somehow so anxious about each steps of this mission because my biggest wish for 2022 is to see my best musical buddy being able to see the first pictures out of Webb. He worked on building one of the pieces of this telescope, and talked about it for so long each time we were jamming. Sadly his health went deep critical a few months ago, and may have only few months left. So happy he's still here and finally saw the launch. Let's wish now for him to see the first stars pictures in a few months. I really wish

One of the clearest and most straightforward explanations I've seen. This answered several questions I had about the design and why certain features exist. Thank you.

🔴WE HAVE A TELESCOPE! I was making a "halfway there" video following yesterday's sunshield deployment, but then they went and moved up the secondary deployment to today, TWO DAYS earlier than planned. In the meantime, the most critical deployment since the solar panel is out of the way! Without it, there's no way to use Webb. but now it's possible!

The speaker in this video does an OUTSTANDING job. His voice, expressions, and gestures are perfect. I follow a few science YouTube channels, and I've sort of resigned myself to the croaking and twitching of the people in front of the camera. This guy, by comparison, is a pleasure to watch and listen to.

What an incredibly well made video!. Thanks so much

Excellent video!

OMG, the number and complexity of the deployments is astounding (and worrisome)!! I truly hope all goes as planned.

The ingenuity of the human mind on full display. A true international collaboration. So very glad to be alive to see this.

As a kid I witnessed the first moon landing and saw the capsule up close after it's return. Back then it seemed rugged, crude, built to withstand heat and a lot of forces. In contrast this space instrument is an example of an extremely precise and well thought out combination of structures that operate in unison so that each component can play its vital part. Like the Apollo capsule, it needs to cope with the extreme environment of space, yet this seems to be 'brain in stead of brawn-design' . I am very very impressed indeed. I can't wait to hear & see more about it's progress. Thank you for your presentation. Willem

🔴 UPDATE: The Aft Momentum Flap is deployed. Thumbnail updated :)

I have been searching for this very type of information for 2 days now. I know there are videos that describe the deployment and manouvers made before launch of the telescope, but I want the most up to date information and explanations in layman's terms. I will share this video for sure.

🔴UPDATE: Sunshield tensioning underway! After going late on New Year's Eve, the team took the day off on Saturday and then Sunday elected to better characterize Webb's behavior now that it's in space. So sunshield tensioning was delayed until today and began this morning. This will continue for the next 2-3 days until fully deployed! Thumbnail updated :)

That was a wonderful explanation of the steps needed to make this very cool telescope work. Thank you for posting.

This was the best JWST explainer video I saw! No distracting vfx, no music, no bs filling extreme oversimplifications. Magnificent work sir. Subscribed

🔴UPDATE: Starboard mid-boom deployed! 107 release mechanisms (which ALL worked) later, and the sunshield looks like a diamond!