James Webb Telescope

[Puppycow]

Any reason for that interpretation? I read it as less cautious and more confident.

Well, I don't know, but it is a change in the planned schedule.

 

[Samson]

Well, I don't know, but it is a change in the planned schedule.

This is a pilot dilemma. Is the plane better with a pilot who can react to events?

 

[smartcooky]

This is a pilot dilemma. Is the plane better with a pilot who can react to events?

 

[Puppycow]

This is a pilot dilemma. Is the plane better with a pilot who can react to events?

Absolutely. I just hope that there are no particular events that need reacting to, other than routine events.

 

[Steve]

This is a pilot dilemma. Is the plane better with a pilot who can react to events?

Well I.......... er............ahh............um........... No. No, it is not.

 

[Ziggurat]

An aside while we await more deployment action . . .

If JWST or subsequent technologies every find really good evidence of some forms of life on other planets, would that pose a problem/threat to current religious beliefs? I think it would have to, but when I asked a “DIY” Christian friend recently he quickly said “No, of course not”. When I bombarded him with a barrage of “what about” and “yeah but” examples of how and why it should, he just hand-waved them all away with silly “God works in mysterious ways” and “We can’t understand the mind and workings of God” type dodges.

Well why would alien life pose a problem for religion?

Mainstream Christian doctrine has long held Genesis to be metaphorical and not literal. I can see some possible open theological questions with, for example, whether intelligent extraterestrial life had a soul, could go to heaven, should be converted, etc. But I don't see why the mere existence of alien life makes any real difference.

 

[RecoveringYuppy]

Absolutely. I just hope that there are no particular events that need reacting to, other than routine events.

I'm not reading this as a problem. I'm reading it as them having the luxury of doing something they prefer to do rather than something they urgently need to do. So, I'm reading this as the opposite of reactionary.

 

[Fidelio]

An aside while we await more deployment action . . .

If JWST or subsequent technologies every find really good evidence of some forms of life on other planets, would that pose a problem/threat to current religious beliefs? I think it would have to, but when I asked a “DIY” Christian friend recently he quickly said “No, of course not”. When I bombarded him with a barrage of “what about” and “yeah but” examples of how and why it should, he just hand-waved them all away with silly “God works in mysterious ways” and “We can’t understand the mind and workings of God” type dodges.

My Mormon in-laws have been known to give telescopes as Christmas presents. Yeah, I know.

 

[theprestige]

An aside while we await more deployment action . . .

If JWST or subsequent technologies every find really good evidence of some forms of life on other planets, would that pose a problem/threat to current religious beliefs? I think it would have to, but when I asked a “DIY” Christian friend recently he quickly said “No, of course not”. When I bombarded him with a barrage of “what about” and “yeah but” examples of how and why it should, he just hand-waved them all away with silly “God works in mysterious ways” and “We can’t understand the mind and workings of God” type dodges.

To be fair, he gave the most reasonable and appropriate response to a barrage of “what about” and “yeah but” examples.

 

[Trebuchet]

My Mormon in-laws have been known to give telescopes as Christmas presents. Yeah, I know.

Can they see the planets each male is going to inherit?

Back on topic, they are now happier with things and have proceeded to start tensioning.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/

 

[ynot]

VERY SORRY for my post #333 in this thread and this section of the forum. It belongs in the Religion and Philosophy section and I’d be happy for the Mods to move it there. Let’s not sully the importance of JWST by mixing it with invisible, magical, sky-daddy beliefs.

To be fair I didn’t start it - “As we peer back in time and capture the light from the very beginning of the creation” – Bill Nelson “NASA Administrator” .

 

[The Great Zaganza]

theological criticism of the Jame Webb Telescope:

"You just let the machines get on with the adding up, and we'll take care of the eternal verities thank you very much. You want to check your legal position you do mate. Under law the Quest for Ultimate Truth is quite clearly the inalienable prerogative of your working thinkers. Any bloody machine goes and actually finds it and we're straight out of a job aren't we? I mean what's the use of our sitting up half the night arguing that there may or may not be a God if this machine only goes and gives us his bleeding phone number the next morning?"

 

[theprestige]

Well, they've had around 25 years to work things out.

After spending $10 Bil or so, the extra cost of a few GoPro's so we could see what 's goin on would've been a good idea ; )

I'm pretty sure if NASA thought an onboard camera was the most effective way to instrument their telescope, they would have included onboard cameras. My understanding is that pretty much everything that goes up is already instrumented the best way possible.

 

[theprestige]

VERY SORRY for my post #333 in this thread and this section of the forum. It belongs in the Religion and Philosophy section and I’d be happy for the Mods to move it there. Let’s not sully the importance of JWST by mixing it with invisible, magical, sky-daddy beliefs.

To be fair I didn’t start it - “As we peer back in time and capture the light from the very beginning of the creation” – Bill Nelson “NASA Administrator” .

It's called a figure of speech.

 

[smartcooky]

theological criticism of the Jame Webb Telescope:

Absolutely!!! "We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty."

 

[ynot]

It's called a figure of speech.

“Figure of speech” my arse!!! Just another version of claiming “It’s allegorical” when it suits.

 

[ynot]

I'm pretty sure if NASA thought an onboard camera was the most effective way to instrument their telescope, they would have included onboard cameras. My understanding is that pretty much everything that goes up is already instrumented the best way possible.

Well . . .

I know you are kidding

 

[smartcooky]

VERY SORRY for my post #333 in this thread and this section of the forum. It belongs in the Religion and Philosophy section and I’d be happy for the Mods to move it there. Let’s not sully the importance of JWST by mixing it with invisible, magical, sky-daddy beliefs.

To be fair I didn’t start it - “As we peer back in time and capture the light from the very beginning of the creation” – Bill Nelson “NASA Administrator” .

It's called a figure of speech.

“Figure of speech” my arse!!! Just another version of claiming “It’s allegorical” when it suits.

Well I watched Bill Nelson's rambling "God bothering" statement live during the launch. First thought was "Who the hell is this idiot? Why is is saying all that crap?" I thought it was utterly cringeworthy.

What the hell were they thinking appointing this old fool as head of NASA - he's nearly 80 FFS. The NASA administrator needs to be someone younger with enthusiasm and fresh ideas.

Bring back Jim Bridenstine!!

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[ynot]

Meanwhile, back in the real Universe . . .

"Today, at 3:48 pm EST, the Webb team finished tensioning the first layer of the observatory’s sunshield– that is, tightening it into its final, completely taut position. This is the first of five layers that will each be tightened in turn over the next two to three days, until the observatory’s sunshield is fully deployed."

https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/01/03/first-layer-of-webbs-sunshield-tightened/

Hope the next four go as well . . .

"The team has now begun tensioning the second layer."

 

[ynot]

Have started a "Would extra-terrestrial life threaten god beliefs?" thread in the Religion and Philosophy section so this thread doesn't become to tainted.

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