Hubble and the James Webb Space Telescope: A Tale of Two Observatories in Space

John Mace Grunsfeld

May 2, 2023 at 7:30 P.M. live at the VASSC (the lecture will not be streamed)

Modern astrophysics tries to answer grand questions about the Universe and our place in it: Where did we come from, where are we going, and are we alone? Key to answering these questions are two great observatories in space that are collaborations with NASA, ESA, and other partners. Launched in 1990 the Hubble Space Telescope has been called the most productive scientific instrument in human history. On Christmas day in 2021 the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was launched into space after decades of development. JWST was designed to extend the view of Hubble in regions of the cosmos Hubble can’t penetrate. JWST is exceeding the grand expectations of its ability to unravel the mysteries of the Universe. To answer the big question of “are we alone” may require a much larger telescope than we can launch on one rocket, and would have to be assembled in space. Join Astronaut/Astrophysicist John Grunsfeld as he takes us through the stories of Hubble, JWST, and how we might assemble a life finding great observatory.

John Grunsfeld is known as the “Hubble repairman” having flown on five shuttle flights including three missions to service and upgrade the telescope. He has served as the NASA Chief Scientist, the Associate Administrator for Science at NASA HQ, and deputy director of the Space Telescope Science Institute. He is currently president of Endless Frontier Associates. His current research is in the search for life in the Universe.

short link: https://go.nasa.gov/3lXWSZx

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