NASA’s new James Webb Space Telescope reaches its final destination in space

Nearly a month after it was launched, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s largest and most powerful space telescope, has arrived at its position in space from where it will quietly observe the many intriguing events of the visible Universe. The space telescope reached its destination, the Lagrange Point 2, as it is known, located 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth on its nightside.

The telescope was put into orbit following a five-minute thrust by the thrusters on the telescope. The James Webb telescope has spent the past month gradually and delicately unfolding its mirrors and several other pieces of equipment that were packed into the rocket and blasted off into space on Christmas day last year. NASA’s engineers have patiently worked on the telescope, giving it commands and guiding it from ground control.

The most potent telescope ever to be launched into outer space will now spend the coming weeks and months reading itself for its actual mission—unearthing the mysteries of the Universe and mapping its evolution. The telescope’s new home, the Lagrange Point, is a gravitationally stable point in space.

Strategically positioned at this orbit, the James Webb Space Telescope will now have an expansive view of the visible Universe at any given moment.