James Webb Space Telescope Launch On Christmas Day: When And How To Watch It Live

JWST is scheduled for launch on Saturday, December 25 at 7:20 am EST (5:50 pm IST), atop an Ariane 5 rocket.

The NASA James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to launch on Christmas (Photo: NASA)

New Delhi: The NASA James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), also called Webb, is a large, space-based infrared observatory that will complement and extend the discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope. It is scheduled for launch on Saturday, December 25 at 7:20 am EST (5:50 pm IST), atop an Ariane 5 rocket, which is one of the most reliable launch vehicles.

Webb will blast off into space from Arianespace's ELA-3 launch complex at European Spaceport located near Kourou, French Guiana. 

JWST is a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency. 

How To Watch The Launch Online

NASA and its partners are planning a launch broadcast celebration that can be viewed in different ways. Live countdown commentary and launch broadcast will begin on December 25 at 6:00 am EST (4:30 pm IST). The launch will be broadcast live on NASA Television, and the agency's website.

One can also stream the launch on YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, Daily Motion, Theta.TV, and NASA's App. 

People can also join the Facebook event to watch the launch broadcast, which will continue until approximately one hour post launch, NASA said on its website.

The actual launch window will open at 7:20 am EST (5:50 pm IST), and will last for 31 minutes. 

After the broadcast is over, one can follow the progress of commissioning on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. 

Webb will cover longer wavelengths of light than Hubble and will have greatly improved sensitivity. The longer wavelengths will enable Webb to look further back in time to see the first galaxies that formed in the early universe.