NASA successfully launches $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope

NASA is celebrating the successful launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. The $10 billion observatory lifted off on Christmas, and once it is fully operational, scientists hope it will reveal new information about our universe and its origins. CBS News senior space analyst Bill Harwood joins CBSN with more.

[katuhtonik]

We are actually witnessing one of the greatest technological marvels of mankind's history.

[stanimal]

Wow, CBS actually have a science analyst that is technically competent. Love that JWST is off the ground, hope all goes well for the next 6 months as the spacecraft is moved into position at L2, deployments performed and instruments calibrated.

[IKEMENOsakaman]

As a person who saw the moon landing on TV, I never would've thought the space exploration would be jointly done by NASA and private companies in the 21st Century.

[jetaddicted]

Correction: ESA correctly launches NASA’s space telescope, NASA doesn’t own the Kourou space port, nor does it fabricate Ariane rockets.
☝️🥸🇪🇺

[FLASK]

I've been looking forward to this for a looong time. Remember reading about this in high school when it was commissioned/planned in early 2000s. I was following its progress and for a while in the 2010s it felt like the project was on the brink of being scrapped for other projects. Especially as the moon and Mars took center stage. I'm so glad this launch happened. One of the under rated things I'm looking forward to is the work it will do in exoplanets.

[jaysonpida]

Just a perfect launch ESA ! Thank you for this wonderful xmas gift.

[charlesmartin]

At long (I mean long) last Webb is in space! God speed James Webb Telescope.

[platinumpineapple]

God Speed Telescope! All the Earthlings wish you nothing but success and lots of good data and new information to advance science! ✊

[nurbeknaiman]

Congratulations on a successful flight. We are very happy. This event is a great achievement of mankind. Very well organized fantastic flight. Good luck in the process of using the telescope. Forward NASA. Forward ESA. From Kazakhstan 🇰🇿.

[JavierFlores-tttp]

Well, no, a big NO, or MISLEADING at least. NASA did not launch the telescope, it was ESA, the European Space Agency. Certainly NASA did a lot of things, A LOT, starting with its concept. BUT it was ESA who launched it, so today's credit and applauses are only their's and nor, NOT NASA's.

[mihadalzayat]

Better ROI than the trillions spent on Afghanistan

[dbsti]

I hope the instruments check out ok and it gets started. Hubble had a defective lens when it started up.

[randybaumery]

I'm so glad it finally flew. I cannot wait for the images.

[joshuamccaulley]

I cannot wait to see what this thing finds and can show us ( even though we won't see the good stuff ) but man I been waiting for this for a decade!!

[carnell]

Big ups to these legends spending their Christmas helping humanity

[mamon]

$10 billion later. Good job NASA, ESA and CSA. Hope every things goes without a glitch. Can’t wait.

[harrycover]

Arianne, the french rocket, launches the international James Webb

[irafa]

To clarify, even so Hubble is 30 years old and counting it will NOT be replaced by Webb! They will work in conjunction as a team as they both expand our view of the universe outside on space as now we will have and almost complete spectrum of light to explore. As a matter of fact, James Webb is made to last 10 years, since we can’t reach it, Webb will run out of gas to keep it self on L2 orbit (unless we go and refuel it). On the other hand, Hubble has been updated multiple times, because is in a low orbit, and is actually expected to outlast Webb as more updates can be made, and are planed. Hope they talk more about it! Hubble & Webb together is the complete story 🤓!

[JonathanRodriguez-nufk]

This is going to be amazing I can't wait.

[badbattleaxe]

I've been waiting for this for over a decade. 😲