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UNFOLD THE UNIVERSE James Webb Space Telescope Launch Party with Astronomy Professor Danny Milisavljevic

SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH! DEC. 25th, 2021

Purdue University Department of Physics and Astronomy watched live with the world as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) successfully launched into orbit after years of delay. The JWST will allow humanity to peer into our universe like never before using infrared technology. It launched from French Guiana at 7:20am EST on December 25th, 2021. We thank all of you who tuned in with us as well as our speakers, our behind the scenes people, and the building administration of Chaney-Hale Hall.

Professor Danny Milisavljevic is the Principal Investigator of Cycle 1 JWST Program for the James Webb Space Telescope. He is joined by Bhagya Subrayan, Ph.D. Candidate/MC, Tea Temim of Princeton University, Ori Fox of the Space Telescope Science Institute, David S. Leckrone, Emeritus Senior Scientist at the Goddard Space Flight Center and author of "Life With Hubble: An insider's view of the world's most famous telescope,'" Kate Gasaway of Purdue University Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Mikako Matsuura of Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology, and more. Purdue University, known as the Cradle of Astronauts, remains undeterred in its persistent pursuit of the next giant leap since even before alumni Neil Armstrong took that famous small step. Thank you for joining us to watch this next giant leap.

JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE VIRTUAL LAUNCH PARTY

DECEMBER 25, 2021, 6:30 a.m. EST

Meet Professor Danny Milisavljevic

Prof. Milisavljevic is an Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Purdue University College of Science. He is helping NASA unfold the universe and will guide us through the launch in our virtual launch party. Milisavljevic is a Principal Investigator of Cycle 1 JWST Program for the James Webb Space Telescope.

Moments before the launch, Prof. Milisavljevic and his team assembled to watch this once-in-a-lifetime launch at Purdue University West Lafayette campus on a quiet Christmas morning, Dec. 25, 2021.

OUR SPEAKER LINEUP SO FAR:

MC of the event: Bhagya Subrayan, Ph.D. candidate

Danny Milisavljevic, Purdue University

Tea Temim of Princeton University

Ori Fox of Space Telescope Science Institute

Follow @fox_ori on twitter

Kate Gasaway, PhD Candidate at Purdue University Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering

Mikako Matsuura, Senior Lecturer for Cardiff Hub for Astrophysics Research and Technology

David S. Leckrone, Emeritus Senior Scientist at the Goddard Space Flight Center and author of Life With Hubble: An insider's view of the world's most famous telescope

WHY ARE THE MIRRORS OF THE JWST GOLD?

We Boilermakers may be partial, but here at Purdue, we love the gold panels. #boilerup

When we talk about the James Webb Space Telescope being an infrared telescope, what does it mean? Purdue PhysAstro senior, Alan Jeffrey Wright, has the answer.

MEET OUR ASTRONOMY FACULTY

Purdue Physics and Astronomy faculty explain how they think the JWST will change the future of their science. Click the names below to watch each professor or researcher's full video.

“JWST is going to allow us to look at stellar objects at wavelengths and resolutions we’ve never been able to use before. Supernova remnants are leftover explosions — that’s what we’ll be studying. We’ll be able to study what type of star was there before the explosion, the physics of the explosion, the type of dust it generated and what made it all happen. Supernova explosions make all the materials for life — the oxygen we breathe, the iron in our blood.” -Professor Danny Milisavljevic

Sneak a peek behind the scenes at Chaney-Hale Hall in our photo gallery below. A large part of our on-campus crew gathered in this amazing campus building to put together the the launch party. We are thrilled to have shared this experience with you. Protect-Purdue protocols were followed and speakers were unmasked only while socially distanced and on camera.

James Webb Space Telescope fun and games

#unfoldtheuniverse

Credits:

Photo and video elements by NASA and Purdue University.