The James Webb Space Telescope

Move over Hubble ... there is a new kid on the block and if it performs up to its hype, we are in for something special.  Your job is to research some things about this next generation space telescope. 

Part 1 - When was/will be the telescope launch date?  What kind and number of mirror(s) are mounted on it?  (Give the overall equivalent diameter of a single mirror).  How does that compare with Hubble?  What part of the electromagnetic spectrum is it designed to measure?  What is the expected lifespan of the JWST?

The JWST is scheduled to launch in 2021 (originally set for 2018, then moved to 2020).
It will have 18 hexagonal mirrors with an equivalent diameter of 6.5 m
Hubble's mirror is 2.4 m in diameter.  The JWST will have 7 times the light collecting power of Hubble.
The JWST is designed to collect radiation in the infrared (vs the visible and ultraviolet for the Hubble).
The JWST will run out of fuel and eventually die anywhere from 5½ - 10 years.  Fuel is needed to maintain its orbit and maintain orientation (to counter the forces produced by sunlight) .

Part 2 - Where will this telescope be making its measurements from?  Why was this location chosen?

The JWST will orbit at Lagrange point L2 (actually around that point).  This will park the spacecraft well beyond the orbit of the moon.  This was chosen because the Earth emits too much infrared radiation.  You need to get as far from the Earth's heat signature as possible.

Part 3 - Within our galaxy, the JWST will be able to outperform the Hubble scope in many respects.  Give one example and explain why.

Gas in space blocks visible light but that is not the case with infrared radiation.  Therefore, the JWST will be able to view deep inside nebulas (gas clouds in space). 

Planets orbiting other stars (exoplanets) are strong emitters in the infrared.  The JWST will be able to directly image exoplanets.

Part 4 - Why will this telescope be able to view galaxies that are beyond the range of Hubble?  Hint: It is more than the fact that the mirror on the JWST is much larger than Hubble, but rather, something that the universe has been doing since its inception.

Our universe is expanding.  As a result of this cosmic expansion, radiation from distant sources of radiation is red shifted.  Eventually the visible light from extremely distant galaxies is so red shifted that they become strong radiators in the infrared.  Hubble won't see them but the JWST will. 

Part 5 - I've made it seem that the JWST is a successor (or better ... competitor) to the Hubble scope.  However, that is not the case.  Which instrument can be considered the little brother to the JWST? Explain.  Hint: It is no longer functional.

The Herschel Space Observatory was an infrared space telescope orbiting at Lagrange point L2 build by the European space agency.  It ran out of coolant in 2013.  Note: The JWST will not have that problem since it is will require no liquid gases for cooling.