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October 8, 2010

Show 7: Got Your Back


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Show 9: Not So Heavy Metal Not So Heavy Metal
January 13, 2011
Show 8: Stretching Webb's Wings Stretching Webb's Wings
November 17, 2010
Show 7: Got Your Back Got Your Back
October 8, 2010
Show 6: Troubleshooting Webb Troubleshooting Webb
August 18, 2010
Complete Archive
Show Notes

Webb has a primary mirror six times larger than the one found on the Hubble Space Telescope. In order for a primary mirror 21 feet in diameter to travel into space, it has to be broken up into multiple segments — in this case, 18 of them.

But for the 18 to act as one primary mirror, they have to be adjusted while in orbit. How this task is achieved is the focus of this episode of Behind the Webb: Got Your Back.