N° 44–2021: Invitation to watch Webb launch and attend post-launch media briefing
23 December 2021
ESA will provide coverage of the launch activities for the James Webb Space Telescope, the world’s largest and most powerful space science telescope.
Webb is targeted to be launched at 12:20 GMT/13.20 CET on Saturday, 25 December 2021 on an ESA-provided Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
The Webb mission is a partnership of ESA, NASA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Live launch coverage
Live launch coverage in English will begin at 12.00 CET on ESA WebTV and on ESA’s Youtube channel.
ESA Web TV channel 2 will carry the launch coverage in French, which is a simultaneous translation of the English broadcast from 32 minutes before launch until end of the broadcast.
See esawebtv.esa.int
As soon as possible after the TV transmission, launch highlights will be posted on ESA TV ftp server:
Server: tvdownload.esa.int/
Login: esa
Password: ftp4esa
On launch day, a ‘clean feed’ of the launch without commentary will be available by satellite via Eurovision Services. The uplink will begin at 12.50 CET and continues for 40 minutes after launch. Four audio channels will be available: English commentary, Spanish commentary, French translation and operational audio only.
More information can be found on: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Transmissions/2021/12/James_Webb_Space_Telescope_live_launch
Post-launch media briefing
ESA, NASA, CSA and Arianespace will hold a post-launch news conference approximately 30 minutes after the live launch broadcast ends on 25 December.
The briefing will stream on ESA WebTV: esawebtv.esa.int
To participate by telephone, media must RSVP no later than two hours before the start of each briefing to Laura Betz at: laura.e.betz@nasa.gov. Media and members of the public may also ask questions on social media using #UnfoldtheUniverse.
Media interview requests
Members of the media seeking interviews about Webb’s launch should contact media@esa.int
Further information
https://www.esa.int/Webb
Brochure: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/ESA_Publications/ESA_BR-348_Webb_Seeing_farther
Launchkit: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/James_Webb_Space_Telescope_launch_kit
Social media
Twitter: @esa, @ESA_Webb, @esascience
Instagram: Europeanspaceagency
Facebook: EuropeanSpaceAgency
YouTube: ESA
Hashtags: #Webb, #WebbSeesFarther, #WebbFliesAriane
Images
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Search?SearchText=webb&result_type=images
https://www.flickr.com/photos/europeanspaceagency/albums/72157710584957948
Set of images for print or projection: https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Exhibitions/Webb
Terms and conditions for using ESA images:
www.esa.int/spaceinimages/ESA_Multimedia/Copyright_Notice_Images
For questions or more information related to ESA images, please contact directly spaceinimages@esa.int.
Videos
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Missions/Webb/(result_type)/videos
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2021/09/James_Webb_Space_Telescope
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2021/10/James_Webb_Space_Telescope_launch_campaign
https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2021/12/JWST_A_New_View_of_the_Universe
Terms and conditions for using ESA videos: https://www.esa.int/spaceinvideos/Terms_and_Conditions
For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly spaceinvideos@esa.int.
About the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.
ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Slovenia, Latvia and Lithuania are Associate Members.
ESA has established formal cooperation with five Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.
By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.
Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int
For further information:
ESA Newsroom and Media Relations Office – Ninja Menning
Email: media@esa.int
Tel: +31 71 565 6409