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Space

Sunshield Integrated On James Webb Space Telescope

By Marc Selinger

Monday, August 7th, 2017

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Sunshield Integrated On James Webb Space Telescope

The sunshield for the James Webb Space Telescope. (Photo courtesy of Northrop Grumman)

Northrop Grumman [NOC], prime contractor for the James Webb Space Telescope, announced Aug. 7 that it has finished installing a tennis-court-sized sunshield on the $8.8-billion spacecraft.Designed by Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems in Redondo Beach, Calif., the sunshield will protect the telescope’s infrared sensors from extreme heat. It consists of five layers made of Kapton, a metallic-coated, advanced plastic produced by ManTech International [MANT] subsidiary NeXolve Corp. Each layer is as thin as a human hair.“All five sunshield membranes have been…

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