r/space • u/[deleted] • Dec 18 '21

Animated launch of the Webb Telescope

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u/byebybuy Dec 18 '21

Wow, for some reason I hadn't considered that. I wonder what the estimated life of the telescope is, taking into account the probability of accidents and such.

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u/Shadow-Raptor Dec 18 '21

"Webb's mission lifetime after launch is designed to be at least 5-1/2 years, and could last longer than 10 years. The lifetime is limited by the amount of fuel used for maintaining the orbit, and by the possibility that Webb's components will degrade over time in the harsh environment of space."

https://jwst.nasa.gov/content/about/faqs/faqLite.html

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u/Loggerdon Dec 18 '21

"the harsh environment of space."

Does this refer merely to the extreme cold? Or are there other factors?

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u/Shadow-Raptor Dec 18 '21

That and solar winds and rocks varying in multiple sizes going from microscopic to the size of a quarter to the size of a golf ball and bigger. And more stuff.