N° 29–2021: Call for media: invitation to join pre-launch press programme to see James Webb Space Telescope at Europe’s Spaceport before launch

Webb will be the largest, most powerful telescope ever launched into space. It follows in the footsteps of the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope as the next great space science observatory, designed to answer outstanding questions about the Universe and to make breakthrough discoveries in all fields of astronomy. The telescope will be launched on an Ariane 5 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. As well as launch services, ESA contributes to two of the four science instruments, and provides personnel to support mission operations. Webb is an international partnership between NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

This pre-launch programme will be organised for media to see the telescope in preparation for launch.

Programme

https://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/corporate/Program_Pre_visit_press_JWST_V2_sept6th.pdf

The James Webb Space Telescope will be in the assembly building and visible from a visitor gallery. Access to the clean room will not be possible.

Please note that the programme can be modified at short notice because of operational constraints.

Media registration

Please express interest by 27 September 2021 via https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form

Please note:

-          all costs and expenses for this pre-launch media trip will have to be borne by the participating media;

-          because the number of places is limited, ESA cannot guarantee all interested media will be able to join this press programme;

-          accreditation formalities to access Europe’s Spaceport will have to be completed after confirmation of participation.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, following precautions need to be kept in mind when travelling in French Guiana:

-          COVID-19 restrictions:

• Curfew from 19:00 to 05:00 every day and all day on Sunday
• Shops are open
• Restaurants are closed except for takeaway
• Sanitary pass application is postponed until 16 November

-          Travelling rules:

• From Paris to Cayenne:
  • for vaccinated people, PCR test within 72 hours or antigen test within  48 hours
  • for non-vaccinated people, PCR test within 72 hours or antigen test within 48 hours and 7 days quarantine in French Guiana
• From Cayenne to Paris:
  • for vaccinated people, no test and no quarantine
  • for non-vaccinated people, PCR or antigen test plus 10 days quarantine in France

Further information

https://www.esa.int/Webb

Launch media kit: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/James_Webb_Space_Telescope_launch_kit

Social media

Follow ESA on

Twitter: @esa, @ESA_Webb, @esascience
Instagram: Europeanspaceagency
Facebook: EuropeanSpaceAgency
YouTube: ESA

Hashtags: #Webb, #WebbSeesFarther, #WebbFliesAriane

Images

https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Search?SearchText=webb&result_type=images

Terms and conditions for using ESA images:
www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images

For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int.

Videos

B-Rolls set for media distribution

James Webb Space Telescope
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2021/09/James_Webb_Space_Telescope

Animations
Webb NIRSpec multi-object spectrograph
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2021/09/Webb_NIRSpec_multi-object_spectrograph
Webb NIRSpec integral field units principle animation
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2021/09/Webb_NIRSpec_integral_field_units_principle_animation
Webb MIRI imaging-mode animation
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2021/09/Webb_MIRI_imaging-mode_animation
Webb MIRI spectroscopy animation
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2021/09/Webb_MIRI_spectroscopy_animation

More videos https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Search?SearchText=webb&result_type=videos

Terms and conditions for using ESA videos:https://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Terms_and_Conditions

For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly spaceinvideos@esa.int.

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia, Latvia and Lithuania are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with five Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int

For further information:

ESA Newsroom and Media Relations Office – Ninja Menning

Email: media@esa.int

Tel: +31 71 565 6409