Guest: Dr. Joel Green; Topic: We discussed the James Webb Space Telescope. Please direct all comments and questions regarding specific Space Show programs & guest(s) to the Space Show blog which is part of archived program on our website, www.thespaceshow.com. Comments and questions should be relevant to the specific Space Show program. Written Transcripts of Space Show programs are a violation of our copyright and are not permitted without prior written consent, even if for your own use. We do not permit the commercial use of Space Show programs or any part thereof, nor do we permit editing, YouTube clips, or clips placed on other private channels & websites. Space Show programs can be quoted, but the quote must be cited or referenced using the proper citation format. Contact The Space Show for further information. In addition, please remember that your Amazon purchases can help support The Space Show/OGLF. See www.onegiantleapfoundation.org/amazon.htm.
We welcomed Dr. Joel Green to the show to discuss the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) which will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket in October 2018. During the first segment of our 1 hour 28 minute discussion, we discussed the project, budget and cost overruns, delays for the program, mission capabilities, redundancy and reliability, plus other characteristics of the telescope and the mission. Listeners asked about the high cost of the JWST, the mirror, getting time on the telescope, viewing limitations, image compression, image archiving, and more.
Doug sent in an email asking about assembling large telescopes and deploying them from the ISS. Our guest had much to say about this option. Linda sent in a note wanting to know about keeping the mirror and telescope "clean" while in space. Don't miss what our guest had to say about this. Other subjects in this segment dealt with viewing the infrared, coloring the images, and being complimentary to Hubble science.
In part two, we talked about the expected science discoveries that would come from the JWST. Dr. Green listed three areas of science expectations so don't miss them and what he had to say about each one. We also talked about JWST in comparison to other telescopes, including the Spitzer Space Telescope which is another infrared telescope.
B John wanted to know about the priorities of different science objectives such as cosmology, exoplanets, solar system. His follow up question wanted to know how fast could the JWST interrupt what it is doing and take a look at a sudden supernova or a comet impact on Jupiter or something like that. Don't miss what Dr. Green had to say in response to this question.
I asked Dr. Green how they measure the tax payer value of something like the JWST. We had an interesting discussion about this, including outreach to the "man on the street" for feedback and more. Dr. Green told us about his educational outreach, many of the problems and hurdles involved, some of the views held by the general public, and efforts to overcome some of these views. He used the subject of spectroscopy as a good example. This is an important discussion so make sure you hear what he had to say on this topic.
Near the end of the program, we talked about the current news regarding a massive planet found within a triple-star system. I suggest you read about this. Once source would be The Verge at www.theverge.com/2016/7/7/12111660/exoplanet-three-suns-very-large-telescope-direct-imaging
Please post your comments/questions in the comments section of this archived program on The Space Show website. You can reach Dr. Green through me.
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