Inside the Star Factory: The Creation of the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's Largest and Most Powerful...

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Chris Gunn Christopher Wanjek

Inside the Star Factory

The Creation of the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's Largest and Most Powerful Space Observatory...

Chris Gunn, Christopher Wanjek

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English

MIT Press
14 November 2023

Mathematics & Sciences; Astronomy, space & time; History of engineering & technology

"NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the world's largest orbiting astronomy observatory, is now nearly a million miles from Earth, probing the first stars and galaxies, documenting the structure and evolution of the universe, and searching for signs of life in other solar systems. In a series of extraordinary photographs, Inside the Star Factory tells the story of the Webb Telescope from conception to launch-a marvel of ingenuity and engineering that entailed more than 100 million people hours over a span of thirty years.

The project's lead photographer Chris Gunn was there from the start, documenting the Webb's tumultuous history-the behind-the-scenes details of its construction, from the cutting-edge technology required for an observatory operating at temperatures as low as -370 F, beyond reach for repair, to the human story of an engineering team pursuing an unprecedented goal under incomparable pressure. Derided as the ""telescope that ate astronomy,"" billions of dollars over budget, ten years over schedule, nearly canceled twice, Webb was simply too big to fail.

Accompanied by science writer Christopher Wanjek's overview of the Webb's history and profiles of the scientists and engineers who built it, this exclusive illustrated guide shows readers the heady world of scientific discovery at the very limits of human knowledge-and the very beginning of space and time.

A fascinating, ground-level backstage pass to the creation, launch, and reach of the James Webb Space Telescope.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, the world's largest orbiting astronomy observatory, is now nearly a million miles from Earth, probing the first stars and galaxies, documenting the structure and evolution of the universe, and searching for signs of life in other solar systems. In a series of extraordinary photographs, Inside the Star Factory tells the story of the Webb Telescope from conception to launch-a marvel of ingenuity and engineering that entailed more than 100 million people hours over a span of thirty years.

The project's lead photographer Chris Gunn was there from the start, documenting the Webb's tumultuous history-the behind-the-scenes details of its construction, from the cutting-edge technology required for an observatory operating at temperatures as low as -370 F, beyond reach for repair, to the human story of an engineering team pursuing an unprecedented goal under incomparable pressure. Derided as the ""telescope that ate astronomy,"" billions of dollars over budget, ten years over schedule, nearly canceled twice, Webb was simply too big to fail.

Accompanied by science writer Christopher Wanjek's overview of the Webb's history and profiles of the scientists and engineers who built it, this exclusive illustrated guide shows readers the heady world of scientific discovery at the very limits of human knowledge-and the very beginning of space and time."

By: Chris Gunn, Christopher Wanjek
Imprint: MIT Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 286mm, Width: 260mm, Spine: 22mm
Weight: 1.432kg
ISBN: 9780262047906
ISBN 10: 026204790X
Pages: 188
Publication Date: 14 November 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Chris Gunn is a photographer based in Washington, DC, who specializes in creating images on science and technology. His photographs have been featured in Scientific American, Wired, National Geographic, and the New York Times. Christopher Wanjek is the author of Bad Medicine, Food at Work, and the acclaimed Spacefarers- How Humans Will Settle the Moon, Mars, and Beyond. His work has appeared in such venues as the Washington Post, Smithsonian, and Live Science.

Reviews for Inside the Star Factory: The Creation of the James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's Largest and Most Powerful Space Observatory

Included in Publishers Weekly's Fall 2023 Adult Announcements Science list “A fascinating close-up of the development of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope . . . the real appeal of this generously illustrated volume is Gunn’s photos of engineers constructing and testing the telescope inside NASA’s workshop. It’s an intimate view of an astounding scientific achievement.” – Publishers Weekly