Launched on 25th December, 2021, James Webb Space Telescope has been much in the news since then. What are its unique features which make it superior to its predecessor Space Telescopes? What are the key goals of this mission? What potential benefits does it hold for the human race? (Answer in 250 words)

JWST is a large infrared observatory designed to study the early universe, stellar evolution and exoplanet systems. It complements rather than simply replaces Hubble.

Unique features

• Its 6.5-metre segmented primary mirror has far greater light-collecting area than Hubble.
• It operates mainly in infrared wavelengths, enabling observation through dust and detection of highly red-shifted early galaxies.
• A five-layer sunshield and halo orbit near Sun–Earth L2 keep instruments cold and thermally stable.
• Advanced spectrographs and high-resolution infrared cameras support imaging and chemical analysis.

Mission goals

• Trace the first galaxies and stars and understand galaxy evolution.
• Study star and planet formation within dusty stellar nurseries.
• Characterise exoplanet atmospheres for water, carbon compounds and other biosignatures.
• Investigate objects in the Solar System and the physics of black holes and dark matter environments.

Human benefits

• It advances fundamental knowledge, improves instrumentation and data science, inspires STEM education and may reveal conditions relevant to life.
• International scientific collaboration and open data produce spillovers in sensors, cryogenics and space engineering.

Infrared astronomy; segmented mirror; L2 orbit; sunshield; spectroscopy; exoplanets; early universe.