Contemporary · North America · Science
2021
James Webb Space Telescope launches
December 25, 2021
After two decades of development, $10 billion in costs, and dozens of delays that nearly killed the program, NASA's successor to Hubble lifted off from French Guiana on a Christmas morning. It unfolded its tennis-court sunshield and gold-coated mirrors over a tense month. Six months later it sent home images of galaxies older than anyone had ever seen.
In context
Also in 2021 (8 other events on record)
- Taliban return to Kabul · Central Asia · War
- U.S. Capitol stormed · North America · Politics
- Perseverance lands on Mars · North America · Science
- Myanmar coup · Southeast Asia · Politics
- Omicron variant emerges · Africa · Disaster
- Squid Game eats the world · East Asia · Culture
Before and after in North America
Before and after in Science
Era
Contemporary (2001–2026), one of 196 events from that era on Saeculum.