James Webb telescope: How it could uncover some of the universe's best-kept secrets
If all goes according to plan, the James Webb Space Telescope, launched on Christmas Day 2021 after years of delays, will usher in a new era of astronomy.
Martin Barstow
Professor of Astrophysics and Space Science, University of Leicester
Martin Barstow is a professor of Astrophysics and Space Science at the University of Leicester in the U.K. He is also the president of the Royal Astronomical Society and Pro-Vice Chancellor as well as Head of the College of Science & Engineering. He is chair of the Space Telescope Institute Council, which will operate the James Webb Space Telescope. He is already working on proposals for an even larger space telescope to follow that. Martin’s research interests are the study of hot white dwarf stars and the surrounding interstellar medium. He has been involved in many space missions during his career, including NASA’s Voyager probes, which travelled to the outer planets of the solar system. More recently he has worked on the Hubble Space Telescope helping to develop the plans for the final servicing mission, which took place in May 2009. He leads the Leicester contribution to the ESA Gaia mission.
