Bohemia, New York (December 2021) Data Device Corporation (DDC) – Congratulations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) for the successful December 25th launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The JWST is the world’s largest space telescope, and will enable astronomers to study the origins of our solar system and distant galaxies, far beyond the capabilities of the Hubble space telescope. While the Hubble operates within a low Earth orbit (540 kilometers), the JWST infrared telescope is designed to travel much further to the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L2), 1.5 million kilometers (940,000 miles) from Earth, where it can be kept cold and shielded from infrared interference.
A key innovation of the JWST program is the sunshield, which consists of 5 layers of coated Kapton material ranging between .025 mm and .05 mm thick, and when deployed will span over 3,200 sq. ft. The sunshield is required to keep key systems of the infrared telescope 600°F colder than the side facing the Earth, Moon and Sun. “DDC’s control and connectivity solutions are integral components within the JWST. We are proud to have multiple DDC products utilized on the telescope including our 3 phase DC motor controllers, our MIL-STD-1553 components, and our radiation hardened memory modules,” stated Rich Connors, Vice President of Sales for DDC.
Next summer, after calibration and completion of commissioning, the JWST will begin its science mission, which is anticipated to yield images and data beyond anything seen before.
“DDC is proud to have supported the JWST program since 2008, and we look forward to the successful deployment of the telescope with great anticipation,” stated Joseph Castaldo, Product Line Director of DDC Space Microelectronics.
Image credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Data Device Corporation (DDC) is a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-reliability Connectivity, Power and Control solutions (Data Networking Components to Processor Based Subsystems, Space Qualified SBCs and Radiation Hardened Components; Power Distribution, Control and Conversion; Motor Control and Motion Feedback) for aerospace, defense, space, and industrial applications. With awards for quality, delivery, and support, DDC has served these industries as a trusted resource for more than 57 years... providing proven solutions optimized for efficiency, reliability, and performance. Data Device Corporation brands include DDC, Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, National Hybrid Inc., North Hills Signal Processing Corp., Pascall Electronics Ltd., XCEL Power Systems Ltd and DATEL. DDC, headquartered in Bohemia, NY, has manufacturing operations in New York, California, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
