A Major Milestone for the James Webb Space Telescope on This Week @NASA – January 14, 2022

TL;DR

Webb telescope completes deployment, dwarf galaxy reveals obscured supermassive black hole, 2021 ties for sixth warmest year, new chief scientist appointed, and 10 new astronaut candidates begin training.

Transcript

a major milestone for the james webb space telescope what astronomers could learn from a mini monster black hole and the latest assessment of our planet's global surface temperature a few of the stories to tell you about this week at nasa and we have a fully deployed jwst observatory on january 8th our james webb space telescope team reached a majo... Read More

Key Insights

• 😚 The James Webb Space Telescope's successful deployment of its primary mirror brings the mission closer to conducting scientific observations.
• 🖤 Discovering an obscured supermassive black hole in a dwarf galaxy offers new opportunities to study the growth process of these massive objects.
• 🌐 The global temperature assessment for 2021 reinforces the ongoing trend of global warming and the need to address human impacts on the climate.
• 🧑‍🔬 Dr. Katherine Calvin's appointment as chief scientist reflects NASA's commitment to climate science and aligning with the Biden-Harris administration's objectives.
• 👨‍🚀 The arrival of ten new astronaut candidates marks an exciting prospect for future space missions, including those to the Moon under the Artemis program.
• 🧑 Progress continues on NASA's Space Launch System and Artemis missions, with plans to land the first woman and person of color on the Moon.
• 🍉 The Artemis missions serve as a stepping stone for human exploration of Mars, establishing a foundation for long-term lunar exploration.

Questions & Answers

Q: What major milestone did the James Webb Space Telescope team achieve recently?

The team successfully deployed the telescope's 21-foot primary mirror, completing all necessary spacecraft deployments for science operations.

Q: What insights can astronomers gain from discovering an obscured supermassive black hole in a dwarf galaxy?

This discovery in the dwarf galaxy Mrk 462 could provide valuable information on how the largest black holes grow, as it is rare to find such obscured supermassive black holes in dwarf galaxies.

Q: How does 2021's global average surface temperature compare to previous years?

According to independent analyses by NASA and NOAA, 2021 tied with 2018 as the sixth warmest year on record, reinforcing the long-term global warming trend.

Q: Who has been appointed as NASA's new chief scientist and senior climate advisor?

Dr. Katherine Calvin has been chosen to fill the role, taking over from Jim Green and Gavin Schmidt.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The James Webb Space Telescope successfully deploys its 21-foot primary mirror, marking a significant milestone towards science operations.

• Astronomers discover an obscured supermassive black hole in the dwarf galaxy Mrk 462, providing insights into the growth of these massive entities.

• Global surface temperature in 2021 ties with 2018 as the sixth warmest year on record, highlighting the continuing warming trend and the impact of human activities.

• Dr. Katherine Calvin is appointed as NASA's new chief scientist and senior climate advisor, taking over from Jim Green and Gavin Schmidt.

• Ten new astronaut candidates join NASA's Johnson Space Center for a two-year training schedule, preparing for missions to the International Space Station, the Moon, and beyond.