In September 2021 the James Webb Telescope left America and went on a cruise to Europe. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) recently said that after many years James Webb is ready to see the universe and has met all the requirements needed to launch.
Way Overdue
NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) were supposed to launch the probe in 2007, but due to technical difficulties, it was constantly delayed. NASA and ESA decided that it would be made in America and launched in Europe. The space agency CSA (Canadian Space Agency) also decided to be a part of the mission by shipping supplies. Overall, the mission was just slowed down. NASA and ESA had other things to work on. NASA had to make the Curiosity Mars rover which cut their budget. ESA had to train astronauts to work on the ISS (International Space Station). NASA now says that they're going to launch it before the year is over.
An Important Cargo
James Webb is delicate. So NASA had to be very careful transporting it. NASA had to lift the spacecraft up and fold it like paper. Then put it in a cargo box and ship it on a boat to Europe. ESA will launch it in French Guiana. The current launch date is December 18, 2021. It will then see farther back into the universe than we have ever seen.
