The L2 point is unstable with a period of 23 days? I believe, so the JWT needs a course correct burn to stay positioned correctly (called station keeping).
It does have thrusters - a ring of 16 hydrazine "burning" units that can produce thrust on 3 axis.
The fact that the L2 point is unstable and that thrusters are required puts a lifetime on the telescope - I think NASA plans for a minimum of 5 1/2 years and are hoping to get up to 10. That's entirely reliant on the fuel supply.
The use of thrusters does impact the sensors the telescope uses. NASA et al schedule usable telescope time around burns, and general attitude shifts/correction. The telescope uses a bunch of gyroscopes/flywheels to point itself in the proper direction, during maneuvers like that the sensors aren't operable.
> The fact that the L2 point is unstable and that thrusters are required puts a lifetime on the telescope - I think NASA plans for a minimum of 5 1/2 years and are hoping to get up to 10. That's entirely reliant on the fuel supply.
So when the fuel is exhausted the orbit decays and the unshielded telescope disintegrates on re-entry into Earth's atmosphere?
It does have thrusters - a ring of 16 hydrazine "burning" units that can produce thrust on 3 axis.
The fact that the L2 point is unstable and that thrusters are required puts a lifetime on the telescope - I think NASA plans for a minimum of 5 1/2 years and are hoping to get up to 10. That's entirely reliant on the fuel supply.
The use of thrusters does impact the sensors the telescope uses. NASA et al schedule usable telescope time around burns, and general attitude shifts/correction. The telescope uses a bunch of gyroscopes/flywheels to point itself in the proper direction, during maneuvers like that the sensors aren't operable.