Key Component of James Webb Space Telescope Transported Safely To NASA
On Tuesday, IAG Cargo, which is comprised of British Airways World Cargo and Iberia Cargo, in conjunction with Pinnacle International Freight, the global freight forwarder, was responsible for the safe transportation of the Mid Infra Red Instrument (MIRI) – a key component of the James Webb Space Telescope. The MIRI was transported from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, United States.
The instrument – an infrared camera and spectrometer – was transported in a B747 aircraft from IAG Cargo’s hub at London Heathrow to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The instrument has been in development and production for 15 years and is extremely sensitive, requiring it to be handled with extreme care. Additional measures, including temperature and environmental controls and monitoring, were also put in place to ensure a safe transit.
The 850kg total load was transported by IAG Cargo through British Airways’ Constant Climate precision time and temperature offering, in an Envirotainer to ensure maximum protection and temperature control throughout the journey. A specialist team from IAG Cargo were also on hand to ensure the temperature controls and monitoring were in place – just one of the services available within IAG Cargo’s extensive range of specialist premium product range, which also includes secure, its security offering and Prioritise, its express product.
Alan Dorling, Head of Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences at IAG Cargo commented: “From cargos of life-saving medicines to instruments destined for outer space, IAG Cargo is consistent in its delivery of specialist solutions to more than 350 destinations around the world. It was an honour to be a part of the supply chain and an endorsement of our Constant Climate product quality standards; which ensured the European-made component was delivered safely to NASA on its way to becoming a part of the historic James Webb telescope.”
“I am delighted that the instrument has now safely arrived at NASA following its BA flight – the completion of an instrument such as this is a major achievement for the whole team in the UK, Europe and the USA and the delivery is a major milestone for NASA that brings scientific discoveries with JWST a big step closer said Prof Gillian Wright, the European Principal Investigator for the instrument.
The instrument has been designed and engineered by a European Consortium of science institutes and industry in partnership with JPL and is one of only four flight instruments for the James Webb Telescope. It recently completed an exhaustive set of performance tests at STFC's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, from where it was transported to Heathrow. The UK team working on MIRI also includes engineers and scientists from STFC's UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Astrium Ltd, and Leicester University.
The James Webb Telescope – regarded as the successor to the Hubble Telescope – is planned to launch into space in 2018.
The instrument – an infrared camera and spectrometer – was transported in a B747 aircraft from IAG Cargo’s hub at London Heathrow to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The instrument has been in development and production for 15 years and is extremely sensitive, requiring it to be handled with extreme care. Additional measures, including temperature and environmental controls and monitoring, were also put in place to ensure a safe transit.
The 850kg total load was transported by IAG Cargo through British Airways’ Constant Climate precision time and temperature offering, in an Envirotainer to ensure maximum protection and temperature control throughout the journey. A specialist team from IAG Cargo were also on hand to ensure the temperature controls and monitoring were in place – just one of the services available within IAG Cargo’s extensive range of specialist premium product range, which also includes secure, its security offering and Prioritise, its express product.
Alan Dorling, Head of Pharmaceuticals and Life Sciences at IAG Cargo commented: “From cargos of life-saving medicines to instruments destined for outer space, IAG Cargo is consistent in its delivery of specialist solutions to more than 350 destinations around the world. It was an honour to be a part of the supply chain and an endorsement of our Constant Climate product quality standards; which ensured the European-made component was delivered safely to NASA on its way to becoming a part of the historic James Webb telescope.”
“I am delighted that the instrument has now safely arrived at NASA following its BA flight – the completion of an instrument such as this is a major achievement for the whole team in the UK, Europe and the USA and the delivery is a major milestone for NASA that brings scientific discoveries with JWST a big step closer said Prof Gillian Wright, the European Principal Investigator for the instrument.
The instrument has been designed and engineered by a European Consortium of science institutes and industry in partnership with JPL and is one of only four flight instruments for the James Webb Telescope. It recently completed an exhaustive set of performance tests at STFC's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, from where it was transported to Heathrow. The UK team working on MIRI also includes engineers and scientists from STFC's UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Astrium Ltd, and Leicester University.
The James Webb Telescope – regarded as the successor to the Hubble Telescope – is planned to launch into space in 2018.