Podcast: Professional Tinkering

• By Sara Mitchell
• April 17, 2009
• Comments Off on Podcast: Professional Tinkering

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In astrophysics, the development of innovative technology is crucial to answering scientific questions about the Universe around us. The types of technology invented are determined, at least in part, by the answers we are seeking. At the heart of this science-technology cycle are “professional tinkerers,” scientists and engineers that balance the needs of the astrophysics field and the opportunities afforded by an impressive palette of tools.

In this episode, we interviewed Dr. Harvey Moseley, one of the “tinkerers” here at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. He gave Blueshift some advice on how to take inventions from the drawing board to reality.

Harvey Moseley and the James Webb Space Telescope

One of the innovative new missions under development at Goddard is the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), scheduled to launch in 2013. The successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, JWST will peer back in time to seek information about the formation of the early Universe. Working in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, JWST utilizes a variety of innovative technologies – from its fold-out deployment to advanced focusing and detector systems.

• James Webb Space Telescope – The official NASA mission website.
• New Technology – Information about several innovative new technologies being utitlized throughout the satellite.
• Blueshift: Why So Blue? – Our very first episode, which featured another interview with Dr. Moseley about his work on the microshutter array. There are other resources about JWST on that page.

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