The James Webb Space Telescope has completed the initial positioning of its individual mirrors, and has successfully inserted itself into its orbit around L2. Space.com reported that over the next several months, the spacecraft will cool down even further, and fine-tuning of the optics and other scientific instruments will proceed.
The Ariane rocket which initially lifted it aloft was calibrated such that its thrust wouldn’t propel the telescope too fast, in fear that it would overshoot the mark. This would have forced the spacecraft to use its precious propellant to push back towards the Sun, jeopardizing the exposure of the spacecraft to unnecessary heat.
Instead, it was placed into a trajectory in which it could use its small thruster rockets to make course corrections, including the final maneuver into the L2 orbit.
