About Reflections of JWST: Exploring the Cosmos by Maynard Hurley
Reflections of JWST, Exploring the Cosmos
As I like to say, “I’m not Carl Sagan or Stephen Hawking, but I made their telescopes!”
I have been a mirror maker most of my life. But, more pertinent to this book, I was the leader in the optical shop for the James Webb Space Telescope mirror polishing. We mirror makers consider the mirrors to be “the heart of the telescope.” And, when I say “Reflections of JWST,” yes, there is a tongue-in-cheek pun intended. But please don’t misunderstand.
This was supremely difficult and tedious work. We felt like we were always near the edge of failure – “walking the tightrope of mirror making.” I am reminded of the saying: “Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.” Well, we were “lucky,” but we worked for it and, we made our own luck! We bootstrapped ourselves from meager beginnings to the greatest observatory mankind has ever created.
Now, with the launch at hand, we all have the luxury of contemplating the Cosmos! It is our “time machine,” and we will now be able to look back in time and not only see where we came from but also where we are going in the future.
This book is a collection of my “Reflections of JWST.”
Maynard
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