In July 2022, the first images taken by the James Webb telescope were shared with the public only to reveal the triumph of three decades of scientific and technological development. The glowing red orb of GLASS-z13 that sits in a vacuum of darkness is seemingly just one of millions of galaxies that have been pictured but is in fact, an image of the oldest galaxy ever seen and that existed when the universe was only 300 million years old. It is the symbol of how far humans have come and a memento of the dedication, effort and time scientists have given to create this grand scientific endeavour of the 21st Century.

Initiated in 1996, The James Webb Telescope has been an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and is NASA’s largest and most powerful space science telescope. Being launched in succession to The Hubble Telescope, Webb will build on Hubble’s discoveries and will study every phase in the history of our universe, ranging from the first luminous glows after the big bang, to the formation of solar systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth and to the evolution of our own solar system. Suffice to say that such a technological feat was and is inherent with challenges. In July 2011, the James Webb project was threatened with cancellation, which left astronomers up in arms and fighting to keep the project going. Not only had scientists been working on construction since 2004 but it would have been a disaster for cosmology given the limitations of The Hubble Telescope. Surviving the cancellation attempt then meant overcoming development, construction, testing and many launch delays.

Liftoff on the 25th of December 2021 was the culmination of decades of hard work and development. Scientists will now have the task of managing the telescope and its data from approximately 1.5 million kilometres beyond Earth’s orbit for the next ten years. Considering the incredible discovery of GLASS-z13 within the first week of working, we suspect the team at NASA and The James Webb telescope will deliver enthralling and monumental discoveries regularly.

XA Global Trade Advisors appreciates the efforts that went into this incomparably difficult project.

We honour the 1 200 skilled scientists, engineers and technicians from 14 countries that dedicated their time and skills to a project that will benefit the world.