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James Webb Space Telescope uses cryogenic mirrors and a wavefront sensing and control system to peer back into space to just after the Big Bang

The Wavefront sensing and control system processes cosmic images through mathematical algorithms to calculate the mirror adjustments required to bring the image into focus. When the individual mirrors are properly aligned, the Webb telescope will be able to obtain extraordinarily sharp images and detect the faint glimmer of a distant galaxy. Ball Aerospace engineered a scaled telescope testbed, shown here, so that wavefront sensing and control can be developed and tested.

Image Credit: NASA

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