ARTECH·TALK | Lee Feinberg | Webb’s Window: Engineering Marvels and Cosmic Revelations Wednesday
Join Lee Feinberg, the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) Telescope Manager and Optics Lead, for a captivating talk that dives into the extraordinary engineering and technology behind the JWST, humanity’s most powerful telescope. In “Webb’s Window: Engineering Marvels and Cosmic Revelations,” Feinberg will share the inside story of the monumental challenges and triumphs his team faced while bringing the JWST to life.
Explore how this unparalleled instrument was conceived after the successful repair of the Hubble Space Telescope and how it was designed and constructed overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles through innovation and determination. Feinberg will illuminate what it took to develop the technologies, to build the 18 gold coated hexagonal mirrors, and the challenges overcome to test the telescope along with other key advancements that have propelled the JWST to the forefront of cosmic exploration.
As the JWST rewrites our astronomical textbooks, Feinberg will guide us through a selection of its most breathtaking images. These aren’t just stunning visuals; they’re reshaping our understanding of the universe, sparking awe and wonder. Finally, Mr. Feinberg will discuss how the Webb telescope experience is laying the seeds of a future telescope, the Habitable Worlds Observatory, that will search for life around Earth-like planets and build upon the technical achievements of both Hubble and Webb.
By bridging the realms of art and science, this talk complements ARTECHOUSE’s “Beyond the Light” exhibition, drawing parallels between the JWST’s discoveries and the artistic interpretations of the unseen universe. Prepare to be inspired by the stories of human ingenuity and the beautiful, educational journey that connects us with our cosmic origins and future explorations.
Lee Feinberg, JWST Telescope Manager and Optics Lead, is a pivotal figure at NASA Goddard, has led the James Webb Space Telescope’s optical technology and telescope for over 20 years. His expertise shaped its design and testing phases including to lead the selection of Beryllium as the primary mirror material, leading development of the algorithms that aligned the telescope in space, developing the novel “Cup Up” testing approach, and leading the efforts to mitigate the impacts of micrometeoroids on mirrors once in space. Previously, Feinberg contributed significantly to the Hubble Space Telescope and pioneered next-gen space technologies. An SPIE and GSFC Fellow, he’s also involved in cutting-edge telescope research. Beyond his scientific pursuits, Feinberg is an avid musician in jazz and rock and plays in two DC bands.
Date: Wednesday, January 17
Time:
5pm-6pm Programming
6pm-7pm Exhibition Experience
Location: ARTECHOUSE DC
Tickets will become available one week prior to the event. Make sure you follow us on social media @artechouse where they will be announced.
Your complimentary ticket includes admission to the exhibition.
ARTECHTALK programming is a free series of talks and conversations with NASA scientists, inspired by Beyond the Light at ARTECHOUSE DC.
Beyond the Light, an original artistic expression of scientific discoveries conceptualized and created by ARTECHOUSE Studio in collaboration with NASA, is the story of how human innovation has enabled us to see beyond our imaginations and into the furthest reaches of the cosmos. The cinematic exhibition submerges you into the timeless story of light and aims to inspire your curiosity for what else is possible.
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