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Is the intention for both Herschel and the James Webb Space Telescope to orbit round L2?

I've noticed NASA's James Webb Space Telescope is intended to orbit around the second Legrange point L2 once it's launched, which is the same orbit as ESA's Herschel sub-millimetre telescope currently holds - is the intention to have them both orbiting at the same point? If so, how does that work?!

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Categories: Our universe.

Tags: Universe, Space, telescope, Legrangepoint.

 

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Georg says:

Hello Jazzy,

You can't "orbit around" L2. This point is unstable:

http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/mission/observatory_l2.html

The spacecraft has to be kept close to L2 by active

control (correction thrust) So, when the fuel for this is

consumed, the spacecraft will drift from L2.

But those "points" are vast volumes of space,

even dozens of satelites "parked" there at the same

time would never meet.

Georg

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Tags: Universe, Space, telescope, Legrangepoint.

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posted on 2010-12-08 11:32:21 | Report abuse

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translatrix says:

OK, they don't meet, but still as telescopes they have much the same "point of view", don't they?

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posted on 2010-12-09 08:20:52 | Report abuse


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