The Hubble Space Telescope was launched with the primary goal of measuring the expansion rate of the universe. It turns out the best Hubble has been able to do so far is post an update stating, “It’s complicated.”
The JWST is now getting ready to enter the scene and add its own complications to our understanding of the universe, assuming it works, and until we have healthy data, we’re going to have that caveat. At this point, the obviously scary parts of its assembly are over, however, and the origami telescope has been unfolded to form a complete telescope. We are still watching to see if its actuators and other systems work, allowing it to focus and image, but it at least looks like a telescope.
More Information
NASA press release
