Telespazio's experience at the service of the James Webb Space Telescope

14 January 2022

Christmas has given the scientific and space community a very special gift, with the launch in space, on 25 December last, of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), one of the most important space projects of recent years, in which Telespazio has also taken part.

Having taken off from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou on board an Arianespace Ariane 5 launch vehicle, once it reached space the JWST began the complex and delicate stage of cruising toward Lagrangian point L2, 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth. During this phase, successfully completed in recent days, the telescope opened the mirror wing that will allow scientists and researchers to observe the most remote and distant areas of the Universe.

The JWST, springing from a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency ESA and the Canadian Space Agency, is an international project involving many companies from around the world, including Telespazio, which contributed its experience in terms of flight operations and the development of scientific software.

From the Luigi Broglio Space Centre in Malindi, Telespazio personnel helped the Italian Space Agency - to which the space centre belongs - track the trajectory of the Ariane 5 in the stages immediately following take-off from Kourou, thus helping to release the telescope in the correct orbit.

Moreover, Telespazio France is one of the main industrial partners of the Guiana Space Centre, where for over forty years it has been providing services concerning the operation, management and maintenance of ground systems for the launch of Ariane launch vehicles, including for the JWST mission.

Telespazio's involvement also extends to the British subsidiary Telespazio UK, which is helping the ESA put together all the scientific archives for the mission. Archives are an essential component of a mission such as this one, as they grant the community of scientists a quick consultation tool, thus broadening our knowledge of the entire Universe!

Other News & Stories

22.09.2023
Telespazio and the University of Bologna Receive a Prestigious Award from Geospatial World

Telespazio and Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna have been honored with the prestigious Geobuiz Innovation Award from Geospatial World in the Industry - Academia Engagement Award category.

20.09.2023
Climate: MASE is funding the new emergency management centre in Saint Lucia, in the Caribbean islands

This initiative is part of the GIC project developed by e-GEOS. With the new warning system, maps will be available in a few hours for rescue operations

15.09.2023
Geoinformation: new contracts for GAF to fight climate change and support mining sustainability

In recent days GAF, an e-GEOS company (ASI/Telespazio), has signed new contracts with the European Space Agency (ESA) and with the World Bank to use satellite data to fight climate change and for a more sustainable management of mining activities in Suriname.

14.09.2023
Fucino Space Centre partners of the Intelsat teleport network

The Fucino Space Centre in Abruzzo, Italy, has become one of the key elements of the European network of the partner teleports of Intelsat, one of the leading global satellite operators. 

22.09.2023
Telespazio and the University of Bologna Receive a Prestigious Award from Geospatial World

Telespazio and Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna have been honored with the prestigious Geobuiz Innovation Award from Geospatial World in the Industry - Academia Engagement Award category.

20.09.2023
Climate: MASE is funding the new emergency management centre in Saint Lucia, in the Caribbean islands

This initiative is part of the GIC project developed by e-GEOS. With the new warning system, maps will be available in a few hours for rescue operations

15.09.2023
Geoinformation: new contracts for GAF to fight climate change and support mining sustainability

In recent days GAF, an e-GEOS company (ASI/Telespazio), has signed new contracts with the European Space Agency (ESA) and with the World Bank to use satellite data to fight climate change and for a more sustainable management of mining activities in Suriname.

14.09.2023
Fucino Space Centre partners of the Intelsat teleport network

The Fucino Space Centre in Abruzzo, Italy, has become one of the key elements of the European network of the partner teleports of Intelsat, one of the leading global satellite operators.