Engineers 'Can' Do Anything to Build the James Webb Space Telescope Model (Forwarded)

Rob Gutro
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. February 26, 2007
(Phone: 301/286-4044)

Engineers 'Can' Do Anything to Build the James Webb Space Telescope Model

Engineers "can" do almost anything it seems. During the week of Feb 19, they
constructed a model of the James Webb Space Telescope out of cans. It was on
display at Northrop Grumman Space Technology in Redondo Beach, Calif. It was
built to highlight National Engineer's Week.

The model was constructed with 3,234 cans, weighing 2,348 pounds and
covering 6 feet by 10 feet by 5 feet as part of the "Cangineering" project,
a part of a week-long series of educational outreach activities. The
20-member team who built it required about 80 man-hours to build the
sculpture. The real Webb Telescope is being built by Northrop Grumman to
search for the first galaxies or luminous objects formed after the Big Bang,
determine how galaxies evolved, and observe the formation of stars.

The model was on display throughout the week, and was then disassembled and
donated to Amigos Sin Barreras, a food bank based in Redondo Beach, Calif.

The full-scale JWST model was built by Northrop Grumman to give the viewing
public a better understanding of the size, scale and complexity of this
breakthrough satellite. Specifically designed for an environment subject to
gravity and weather, the model is constructed mainly of aluminum and steel,
weighs 12,000 lbs., and is approximately 80 feet long, 40 feet wide and 40
feet tall.

The Webb Telescope is slated for launch in 2013.

Related Link:

James Webb Space Telescope,
http://www.jwst.nasa.gov

[NOTE: Images supporting this release are available at
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/.../jwst_can.html ]