Photos: NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope

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NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope In this handout image provided by the U.S. National Aeronatics and Space Administration (NASA), Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope onboard, is seen in the final assembly building ahead of the planned roll to the launch pad, at Europes Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center on December 23, 2021 in Kourou, French Guiana. The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called JWST or Webb) is a large infrared telescope with a 21.3 foot (6.5 meter) primary mirror. The observatory will study every phase of cosmic history from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope In this handout image provided by the U.S. National Aeronatics and Space Administration (NASA), Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope onboard, is seen in the final assembly building ahead of the planned roll to the launch pad, at Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center on December 23, 2021 in Kourou, French Guiana. The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called JWST or Webb) is a large infrared telescope with a 21.3 foot (6.5 meter) primary mirror. The observatory will study every phase of cosmic history from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope In this handout image provided by the U.S. National Aeronatics and Space Administration (NASA), Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope onboard, is rolled out to the launch pad on December 23, 2021, at Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called JWST or Webb) is a large infrared telescope with a 21.3 foot (6.5 meter) primary mirror. The observatory will study every phase of cosmic history from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope In this handout image provided by the U.S. National Aeronatics and Space Administration (NASA), Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket, with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope onboard, is seen in this false-color infrared exposure as it is rolled out to the launch pad, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, at Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. The James Webb Space Telescope (sometimes called JWST or Webb) is a large infrared telescope with a 21.3 foot (6.5 meter) primary mirror. The observatory will study every phase of cosmic history from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope Launch teams monitor the countdown to the launch of Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket carrying NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in the Jupiter Center at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. The world's largest and most powerful space telescope has blasted off on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope rocketed away Saturday from French Guiana in South America. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope onboard stands on the launchpad, at the Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on December 25, 2021. The telescope, the most powerful space observatory ever built, will help answer fundamental questions about the Universe, peering back in time 13 billion years. (Jody Amiet/AFP via Getty Images)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope Monitors show the status ahead of the launch of Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket carrying NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in the Jupiter Center at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. The world's largest and most powerful space telescope has blasted off on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope rocketed away Saturday from French Guiana in South America. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope onboard stands on the launchpad, at the Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on December 25, 2021. The telescope, the most powerful space observatory ever built, will help answer fundamental questions about the Universe, peering back in time 13 billion years. (Jody Amiet/AFP via Getty Images)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope Launch teams monitor the countdown to the launch of Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket carrying NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021, in the Jupiter Center at the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. The world's largest and most powerful space telescope has blasted off on a high-stakes quest to behold light from the first stars and galaxies. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope rocketed away Saturday from French Guiana in South America. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope onboard lifts up from the launchpad, at the Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on December 25, 2021. The telescope, the most powerful space observatory ever built, will help answer fundamental questions about the Universe, peering back in time 13 billion years. (Jody Amiet/AFP via Getty Images)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope onboard lifts up from the launchpad, at the Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on December 25, 2021. The telescope, the most powerful space observatory ever built, will help answer fundamental questions about the Universe, peering back in time 13 billion years. (Jody Amiet/AFP via Getty Images)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope onboard lifts up from the launchpad, at the Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on December 25, 2021. The telescope, the most powerful space observatory ever built, will help answer fundamental questions about the Universe, peering back in time 13 billion years. (Jody Amiet/AFP via Getty Images)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope Arianespace's Ariane 5 rocket with NASAs James Webb Space Telescope onboard lifts up from the launchpad, at the Europe's Spaceport, the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, on December 25, 2021. An engineering marvel, the telescope will help answer fundamental questions about the Universe, peering back in time 13 billion years. (Jody Amiet/AFP via Getty Images)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope In this photo provided by NASA, the James Webb Space Telescope is separated in space on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning sky. The $10 billion infrared observatory is intended as the successor to the aging Hubble Space Telescope. (NASA via AP)

NASA launches James Webb Space Telescope In this photo provided by NASA, the James Webb Space Telescope is separated in space on Saturday, Dec. 25, 2021. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope soared from French Guiana on South America’s northeastern coast, riding a European Ariane rocket into the Christmas morning sky. The $10 billion infrared observatory is intended as the successor to the aging Hubble Space Telescope. (NASA via AP)

December 25, 2021 at 8:44 am EST

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