This image of the James Webb Space Telescope's flight backplane structure was taken during a visit by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and NASA representatives to Northrop Grumman's Space Park facility in Redondo Beach.
The backplane is like the spine of the telescope and is the structure on which the mirrors and instruments will be mounted.
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Image credit: Northrop Grumman
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This is a front view of the actual telescope structure of the James Space Space Telescope spacecraft. This is also the flight structure, not a test article. The yellow object is a mass simulator for the telescope's science instrument model (the Integrated Science Instrument Module, or ISIM), which was installed for modal testing of the telescope structure. The stowed Deployable Tower Assembly (DTA) is black cylindar at the base of the structure. The DTA is designed to raise the telescope structure off the spacecraft bus after launch. On the front is the folded up boom that will hold the telescope's secondary mirror.
Credit: Northrop Grumman
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This is a rear view of the actual telescope structure of the James Space Space Telescope spacecraft. This is also the flight structure, not a test article. The photo shows some of the different parts of the telescope structure. In this view, the Backplane Support Fixture (BSF) is visible. The BSF is the backbone of the observatory, is the primary load carrying structure for launch, and holds the science instruments. The yellow structure is a mass simulator for the telescope's science instrument model (Integrated Science Instrument Module, or ISIM), which was installed for modal testing of the telescope structure. The stowed Deployable Tower Assembly (DTA) is seen to the left of the standing figure. The DTA is designed to raise the telescope structure off the spacecraft bus after launch.
Credit: Northrop Grumman
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The backplane, or "spine" of the James Webb Space Telescope arrived from Northrop Grumman on August 25, 2015. It is now at NASA Goddard​ for mirror assembly. JWST is on schedule for a 2018 launch.
"The delivery of the backplane to NASA Goddard represents another significant step in the evolution of JWST" - Bill Ochs, JWST Project Manager
Read more about the delivery of this crucial piece of flight hardware in this feature: www.nasa.gov/feature/james-webb-space-telescope-backplane...
Image credit: NASA Goddard/Chris Gunn
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Just arrived at NASA Goddard - the flight telescope structure of the James Webb Space Telescope. This is like the "bones" of the telescope - it will hold the mirrors and the instruments. It is at NASA Goddard for this assembly. The long struts to the left are the boom that holds the secondary mirror. The whole structure is folded up in a similar configuration to how it will look in the rocket for launch.
You can watch how the telescope will deploy here: youtu.be/bTxLAGchWnA
Image credit: NASA/Chris Gunn
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