From which spaceport was the James Webb Space Telescope launched on 25 December 2021?

Kourou, French Guiana. Kourou, French Guiana is the answer. Webb lifted off from Europe's Spaceport near Kourou on 25 December 2021. An Ariane 5 rocket carried it, and the European Space Agency supplied the launch. Cape Canaveral is in the United States, but Webb did not fly from there. Baikonur is in Kazakhstan and Sriharikota is in India. Neither was used for Webb. Memory hook: Webb flew from Europe's Spaceport, close to the equator. Read more: James Webb Space Telescope: The Revolutionary Infrared Observatory, International Space Programmes, Goldilocks Zone: Where Earth-Like Planets Might Exist.

Where does the James Webb Space Telescope orbit?

The Sun-Earth L2 point, about 1.5 million km away. The Sun-Earth L2 point is the answer. L2 lies about 1.5 million km from Earth. There Webb stays in line with Earth as both circle the Sun. One sunshield can block the Sun, Earth and Moon together. Hubble is the telescope that orbits just above Earth's atmosphere. Geostationary and lunar orbits are not used for Webb. Memory hook: Webb hides behind its shield at L2. Read more: James Webb Space Telescope: The Revolutionary Infrared Observatory, International Space Programmes, Goldilocks Zone: Where Earth-Like Planets Might Exist.

Why are Webb's mirror segments coated with a thin layer of gold?

Gold reflects infrared light well. Gold reflects infrared light well, so that is the answer. The layer is only 100 nanometres thick. It sits on beryllium, which makes each segment strong and light. Blocking solar heat is the job of the sunshield, not the gold. Lightness comes from the beryllium, not the gold. Folding comes from the segmented design. Memory hook: gold for infrared, beryllium for strength. Read more: James Webb Space Telescope: The Revolutionary Infrared Observatory, International Space Programmes, Goldilocks Zone: Where Earth-Like Planets Might Exist.

Which Webb instrument observes mid-infrared light from 5 to 28 microns?

MIRI. MIRI is the answer. It gives images and spectra in the mid-infrared, from 5 to 28 microns. It studies cool dust disks and very distant galaxies. NIRCam covers 0.6 to 5 microns instead. NIRSpec works in the near-infrared and can study more than 100 objects at once. NIRISS is the fourth instrument and shares its slot with the guidance sensor. Memory hook: M for mid-infrared. Read more: James Webb Space Telescope: The Revolutionary Infrared Observatory, International Space Programmes, Goldilocks Zone: Where Earth-Like Planets Might Exist.

Why must Webb's science instruments be kept extremely cold?

Warm parts would glow in infrared and hide faint signals. Warm parts would glow in infrared and hide faint signals. That is the answer. Webb looks at infrared light, which is heat. The sunshield keeps the cold side near 40 kelvins, which is minus 233 degrees Celsius. The gold colour comes from a coating, not from cold. The sunshield folds for launch whatever its temperature. The orbit, not the cold, holds Webb at L2. Memory hook: to see faint heat, be colder than it. Read more: James Webb Space Telescope: The Revolutionary Infrared Observatory, International Space Programmes, Goldilocks Zone: Where Earth-Like Planets Might Exist.

In 2023, NASA reported which gases in the atmosphere of the exoplanet K2-18 b?

Methane and carbon dioxide. Methane and carbon dioxide are the answer. NASA reported them in September 2023 from Webb data. K2-18 b is 8.6 times as massive as Earth and lies 120 light-years away. Webb also gave a possible hint of dimethyl sulfide, a gas made only by life on Earth. NASA called that a possible detection, not proof. The other pairs of gases were not the main finding. Memory hook: methane and carbon dioxide on K2-18 b, plus a maybe. Read more: James Webb Space Telescope: The Revolutionary Infrared Observatory, International Space Programmes, Goldilocks Zone: Where Earth-Like Planets Might Exist.

A method used to measure Webb's mirrors now helps improve which medical procedure?

LASIK eye surgery. LASIK eye surgery is the answer. A method for measuring flaws in Webb's mirrors became part of a device that maps the eye. NASA says it improved the vision of millions of people. The device measures the curve of the cornea with great precision. Heart, kidney and hip procedures were not linked to this spin-off. Memory hook: a tool built to check mirrors now checks eyes. Read more: James Webb Space Telescope: The Revolutionary Infrared Observatory, International Space Programmes, Goldilocks Zone: Where Earth-Like Planets Might Exist.

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Which galaxy did NASA report in May 2024 as the most distant then known, seen less than 300 million years after the big bang?

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Which galaxy did NASA report in May 2024 as the most distant then known, seen less than 300 million years after the big bang?

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