Nature Pushes Back NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Launch

REDONDO BEACH, CA — NASA announced Tuesday that the Webb Telescope launch will be postponed to Christmas Day due to Mother Nature.

It was initially set to launch on Christmas Eve, Thursday.

"Due to adverse weather conditions at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, the James Webb Space Telescope’s launch is postponed from Dec. 24 to no earlier than Dec. 25," NASA announced via Twitter.

Another weather test is expected Wednesday will confirm if the launch is Saturday, NASA said.

"The Ariane 5 launch vehicle and Webb are in stable and safe conditions in the Final Assembly Building," NASA said.In California, people can watch the launch between 7:20 a.m. and 7:52 a.m. PST.

Once operational, Webb will reveal insights about all phases of cosmic history – back to just after the big bang – and will help search for signs of potential habitability among the thousands of exoplanets scientists have discovered in recent years, according to NASA.

The mission is an international collaboration led by NASA, in partnership with the European and Canadian space agencies.

“The James Webb Space Telescope is a colossal achievement, built to transform our view of the universe and deliver amazing science,” NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement. “Webb will look back over 13 billion years to the light created just after the big bang, with the power to show humanity the farthest reaches of space that we have ever seen. We are now very close to unlocking mysteries of the cosmos, thanks to the skills and expertise of our phenomenal team.”

After completing testing in August at Northrop Grumman's Space Park in Redondo Beach, the Webb team spent nearly a month folding, stowing, and preparing the massive observatory for shipment to South America. Webb was shipped in a custom-built, environmentally controlled container.

Visit NASA's website for upcoming announcements and more updates.

Watch the launch, check the countdown and learn more on the website.

Due to adverse weather conditions at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, the James Webb Space Telescope’s launch is postponed from Dec. 24 to no earlier than Dec. 25. A weather forecast will be issued tomorrow to confirm this date: https://t.co/JCxIuDuCgJ #UnfoldTheUniverse pic.twitter.com/c6v2UK2ZuL
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) December 21, 2021

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