NOVA

Ultimate Space Telescope

Directed by Terri Randall
TV-PG
S49 • E10    Jul 12, 2022    54m
8.3
How did NASA engineers build and launch the most ambitious telescope of all time? Follow the dramatic story of the James Webb Space Telescope—the most complex machine ever launched into space. If it works, scientists believe that this new eye on the universe will peer deeper back in time and space than ever before to the birth of galaxies, and may even be able to “sniff” the atmospheres of exoplanets as we search for signs of life beyond Earth. But getting it to work is no easy task. The telescope is far bigger than its predecessor, the famous Hubble Space Telescope, and it needs to make its observations a million miles away from Earth—so there will be no chance to go out and fix it. That means there’s no room for error; the most ambitious telescope ever built needs to work perfectly. Meet the engineers making it happen and join them on their high stakes journey to uncover new secrets of the universe.

Where to Watch Ultimate Space Telescope

Cast of Ultimate Space Telescope

  • Charles F. Bolden Jr.Self - NASA Administrator, 2009-2017, Major General, USMC (Ret.)
  • Caitlin M. CaseySelf - Astronomer, Cosmos Web Survey, The University of Texas at Austin
  • Knicole ColónSelf - Exoplanet Scientist, JWST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Néstor EspinozaSelf - Exoplanet Scientist, JWST, Space Telescope Science Institute
  • Lee FeinbergSelf - Optical Telescope Element Mgr., JWST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Kenneth HarrisSelf - Sr. Integration Engineer, JWST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Jessica HartSelf - Operations Controller, JWST, Space Telescope Science Institute
  • Jeyhan KartaltepeSelf - Astrophysicist, Cosmos Web Survey, Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Charles-Philippe LajoieSelf - Optics Scientist, JWST, Space Telescope Science Institute
  • Nora LutzgendorfSelf - NIRSpec Instrument Scientist, JWST, ESA
  • Mike MenzelSelf - Lead Mission Systems Engineer, JWST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Barbara MikulskiSelf - US Senator
  • Stefanie MilamSelf - Dep. Project Scientist, Planetary Science, JWST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Charles Mattias 'Matt' MountainSelf - Telescope Scientist, JWST, The Assoc. of Universities for Research in Astronomy
  • Antonella NotaSelf - Project Scientist, JWST, ESA STScI
  • Marcia RiekeSelf - NIRCam Principal Investigator, University of Arizona
  • Jane RigbySelf - Astrophysicist, JWST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Gregory L. RobinsonSelf - Program Director, JWST, NASA
  • Craig SechlerSelf - Narrator
  • Lamar SmithSelf - Chairman of House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
  • Alphonso StewartSelf - Deployment Systems Lead, JWST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Amber StraughnSelf - Astrophysicist, JWST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Louis-Gregory StrolgerSelf - Observatory Scientist, JWST, Space Telescope Science Institute
  • Begoña VilaSelf - Instrument Systems Engineer, JWST, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
  • Thomas ZurbuchenSelf - Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA
  • Terri RandallDirector / Writer / Producer
  • Kristine AllingtonProducer
  • Michael H. AmundsonProducer
  • Caitlin SaksProducer

 

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