When James Webb launches, it will have a bigger to-do list than 1980s researchers suspected

Delays for the space telescope mean there’ll be more cool science to do

origami satellite james webb

Engineers work on the James Webb Space Telescope’s primary mirror. The 18 hexagonal mirror segments are made of lightweight yet tough beryllium and coated with a thin layer of gold to boost reflectivity.

Desiree Stover/NASA

The James Webb Space Telescope has been a long time coming.