![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AGZPEOYUNPSXYYM7GEHOASESBQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce4d782d947442d741adca32a2176b3d7c96d41d5180382ee3e9fce1d288ed46&width=400&height=225)
A European rocket, Ariane 5, launched the $10 billion ‘time travel machine’ from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NLBOIHBA3KTCC46BGWSAL6PKEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ccd78c4c648e25b4f5a44b4bdb09fbd793c83e56227408ce8c535ee54b78cc0d&width=400&height=225)
Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope will give astronomers a peek into the early universe. All photos: Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W2ZR2NJYDXRIQ6G3NHQLW6SZZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=fa23fbbbe19b757484219180e72d8918ea7ca7e8b77afbfa648f7c855f474b3e&width=400&height=225)
An artist's impression of the telescope in space. It will detect stars and galaxies 13.5 billion light years away, capturing light sources and studying formation of galaxies
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z5DA4PPRG2AEO5GSOBUJJLFMSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d05ba11ec75971b52933127869341678ab6c889f7b8c4f365a5611bab678891&width=400&height=225)
It is hoped the telescope will show us what the universe was like 100 to 250 million years after its birth
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/66FI6CIAM7GKCFSYNEVOIEBS2E.jpg?smart=true&auth=1cf27bd5f4be026b23453947d456b43dd1196c3c1cb5cc87dd7a3ce2a380d7f1&width=400&height=225)
The James Webb Space Telescope has 18 primary mirrors that are built together in the shape of a honeycomb
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F4VZ5CWPPD4FCICXCZED4D5AGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cff729e201090ea88eb096173a6d8e77f0f000c21eeda30dcd5e73be334ceee6&width=400&height=225)
It is the world's most powerful telescope. Its mirrors are 100 times more powerful than its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFQNPPGJNSJKCQXBNY5OOJ5XPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5907ca80c7f0b8d6471532155c5bcc090dbafb3bcbd5d3505c1afb8ae76b0d78&width=400&height=225)
The $10 billion telescope is the size of school bus. It had to fold up to fit inside the launch rocket
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AGZPEOYUNPSXYYM7GEHOASESBQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce4d782d947442d741adca32a2176b3d7c96d41d5180382ee3e9fce1d288ed46&width=400&height=225)
A European rocket, Ariane 5, launched the $10 billion ‘time travel machine’ from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NLBOIHBA3KTCC46BGWSAL6PKEY.jpg?smart=true&auth=ccd78c4c648e25b4f5a44b4bdb09fbd793c83e56227408ce8c535ee54b78cc0d&width=400&height=225)
Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope will give astronomers a peek into the early universe. All photos: Nasa
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W2ZR2NJYDXRIQ6G3NHQLW6SZZA.jpg?smart=true&auth=fa23fbbbe19b757484219180e72d8918ea7ca7e8b77afbfa648f7c855f474b3e&width=400&height=225)
An artist's impression of the telescope in space. It will detect stars and galaxies 13.5 billion light years away, capturing light sources and studying formation of galaxies
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Z5DA4PPRG2AEO5GSOBUJJLFMSM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2d05ba11ec75971b52933127869341678ab6c889f7b8c4f365a5611bab678891&width=400&height=225)
It is hoped the telescope will show us what the universe was like 100 to 250 million years after its birth
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/66FI6CIAM7GKCFSYNEVOIEBS2E.jpg?smart=true&auth=1cf27bd5f4be026b23453947d456b43dd1196c3c1cb5cc87dd7a3ce2a380d7f1&width=400&height=225)
The James Webb Space Telescope has 18 primary mirrors that are built together in the shape of a honeycomb
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F4VZ5CWPPD4FCICXCZED4D5AGI.jpg?smart=true&auth=cff729e201090ea88eb096173a6d8e77f0f000c21eeda30dcd5e73be334ceee6&width=400&height=225)
It is the world's most powerful telescope. Its mirrors are 100 times more powerful than its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RFQNPPGJNSJKCQXBNY5OOJ5XPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=5907ca80c7f0b8d6471532155c5bcc090dbafb3bcbd5d3505c1afb8ae76b0d78&width=400&height=225)
The $10 billion telescope is the size of school bus. It had to fold up to fit inside the launch rocket
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AGZPEOYUNPSXYYM7GEHOASESBQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=ce4d782d947442d741adca32a2176b3d7c96d41d5180382ee3e9fce1d288ed46&width=400&height=225)
A European rocket, Ariane 5, launched the $10 billion ‘time travel machine’ from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana
What Nasa's $10bn 'time-travelling' telescope will tell us about life on other planets
The telescope, set to launch on December 18, can look back to the beginning of time
![Sarwat Nasir](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5a1721d1-b1fc-47a7-8c35-985395d5a5ae.png?smart=true&auth=59b598b8295381dbbb5492b5ef6a2ffa0d77e07c0a1086053fcdbee600f14b7f&width=70&height=70)
Sarwat Nasir
28 October, 2021
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic