ELECTROGRIP SPACE TELESCOPE CAPABILITIES

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is being prepared to replace the Hubble Telescope, for launch in 2014.

The JWST will be sensitive to infrared light, allowing views of the Universe further back in time (with light more red-shifted due to higher speeds away from our Solar System) than are available from the Hubble.

Electrogrip has machined the low-expansion glass-ceramic test mirrors for the JWST. Electrogrip was chosen for this job due to its unparalleled capabilities in low-damage large-substrate laser machining, low-damage diamond cutting, and its large optics CNC generation capabilities.

The Hubble Telescope has a lower Earth orbit, resulting in extensive damage from 'space junk' and requiring increasing levels of support. The JWST will be sent far from the Earth to the Second Lagrange Point (L2), where it will orbit the Sun in company with the Earth. Its mirrors will unfold in space to the full telescope size.