Background briefing on James Webb Space Telescope

The international James Webb Space Telescope (Webb) will be the largest, most powerful telescope ever launched into space. It follows in the footsteps of the Hubble Space Telescope as the next great space science observatory, designed to answer outstanding questions about the Universe and to make breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy. The telescope will be launched on an Ariane 5 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. As well as launch services, ESA contributes to two of the four science instruments, and provides personnel to support mission operations. Webb’s partners are ESA, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

15:00 – 15:30 CEST: Overview
15:30 – 16:00 CEST: Media Q&A

Speakers

• Günther Hasinger, ESA Director of Science
  Topics: Webb is a NASA/ESA/CSA partnership, European contributions, Webb’s role in ESA’s science programme
• Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA
  Topics: Overview of spacecraft and mission, NASA’s role, how Webb enhances NASA’s astrophysics portfolio
• Gilles Leclerc, CSA Director General, Space Exploration
  Topics: Canada’s role in Webb
• Antonella Nota, ESA Webb Project Scientist
  Topics: Webb’s science goals, Europe-contributed instruments
• Daniel de Chambure, ESA Acting Head Ariane 5 Adaptations & Future Missions
  Topics: Launch vehicle adaptation and qualification, including European Spaceport requirements
• Beatriz Romero, Webb project manager, Arianespace
  Topics: Mission and Launch campaign preparations

The event will be moderated by Ninja Menning, Head of Newsroom and Media Relations.

Journalists are invited to register for the media briefing by 31 May 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. The briefing will be in English.

https://www.esa.int/Webb

Follow ESA on

Twitter: @esa, @ESA_Webb, @esascience
Instagram: Europeanspaceagency
Facebook: EuropeanSpaceAgency
YouTube: ESA

Hashtags:

#Webb, #WebbSeesFarther, #WebbFliesAriane, #WorldWideWebb

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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