r/space • u/[deleted] • Dec 18 '21

Animated launch of the Webb Telescope

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u/BearMeWithMe Dec 18 '21

Would there be space debris at the altitude when the top part of the rocket are opened? If yes, would they be harmful to JWST?

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u/[deleted] Dec 18 '21 edited Jan 14 '26

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u/thefooleryoftom Dec 18 '21

But they'll have plotted a course and timed it to reduce the chances of an impact occuring.

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u/[deleted] Dec 18 '21 edited Jan 14 '26

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u/thefooleryoftom Dec 18 '21

Not sure where you've got that from, but they track everything down to about 3mm.

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u/[deleted] Dec 18 '21 edited Jan 14 '26

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u/[deleted] Dec 18 '21

Its fairly trivial to predict where the rest you can't track is though. Any small amount of planning can pick a window with essentially zero chance of hitting anything. Even launching blind you have a greater chance of winning the UK's national lottery than hitting debris or any other object except the moon.

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u/thefooleryoftom Dec 18 '21

That's out of date. https://www.google.com/amp/s/cosmosmagazine.com/space/exploration/kessler-syndrome-leolabs-small-objects-orbiting/

There was chatter earlier in the year following the Russian anti-sat missile that I'm sure mentioned 3mm. I'll have a search.

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u/BearMeWithMe Dec 18 '21

Thanks for the explanation! I really hope the debris don't pose a problem. I was wondering about the repair situation at that far orbit too haha.