N° 42–2021: Call for media: Briefing on James Webb Space Telescope launch
10 December 2021
Media representatives are invited to follow an online press briefing scheduled a week before the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope.
The international James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) is scheduled for launch on 22 December 2021, 13:20 CET, on an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.
Developed and constructed over more than 30 years, Webb is a remarkable feat of engineering and technology – with the largest astronomical mirror ever flown in space, sophisticated new scientific instruments, and a sunshield the size of a tennis court.
Webb is designed to answer outstanding questions about the Universe and to make breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy.
The major contributions of ESA to the mission are: the NIRSpec instrument; the MIRI instrument optical bench assembly; the provision of the launch services; and personnel to support mission operations. In return for these contributions, European scientists will get a minimum share of 15% of the total observing time, like for Hubble.
Webb’s partners are ESA, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Programme 16 December 16.00 CET
16:00 – 16.15 CET: Overview
16.15 – 16:45 CET: Media Q&A
Speakers
- Günther Hasinger, ESA Director of Science
- Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA Director of Space Transportations
- Antonella Nota, ESA Webb Project Scientist
- Gillian Wright, European Principal Investigator for MIRI instrument
The event will be moderated by Ninja Menning, Head of Newsroom and Media Relations.
Media registration
Journalists are invited to register for the media briefing by 15 December 2021 via:
https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form/
The press conference will be streamed at esawebtv.esa.int, but only registered media will be able to ask questions
Registered media will receive an email with details on how to join. This briefing will be in English.
Further information
Brochure: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_Publications/ESA_BR-348_Webb_Seeing_farther
Launch kit: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/James_Webb_Space_Telescope_launch_kit
Social media
Follow ESA on
Twitter: @esa, @ESA_Webb, @esascience
Instagram: Europeanspaceagency
Facebook: EuropeanSpaceAgency
YouTube: ESA
Hashtags:
#Webb, #WebbSeesFarther, #WebbFliesAriane
Images
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Search?SearchText=webb&result_type=images
https://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/albums/72157710584957948
Set of images for print or projection: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Exhibitions/Webb
Terms and conditions for using ESA images:
www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images
For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int.
Videos
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Missions/Webb/(result_type)/videos
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2021/09/James_Webb_Space_Telescope
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2021/10/James_Webb_Space_Telescope_launch_campaign
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2021/12/JWST_A_New_View_of_the_Universe
Terms and conditions for using ESA videos:
https://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Terms_and_Conditions
For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly spaceinvideos@esa.int.
About the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia, Latvia and Lithuania are Associate Members.
ESA has established formal cooperation with five Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.
By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.
Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int
For further information:
ESA Newsroom and Media Relations Office – Ninja Menning
Email: media@esa.int
Tel: +31 71 565 6409