Visitors to the World Science Festival in New York City were greeted by a startling sight: the Webb Space Telescope. The life-sized model of the telescope gave viewers a glimpse at the next big leap for orbiting observatories.

“Behind the Webb” is an ongoing series that follows the construction of the Webb Space Telescope, Hubble’s successor. Find more episodes at Hubblesite.org.

“Behind the Webb” archive: http://webbtelescope.org/webb_telescope/behind_the_webb/archive

Webb’s mirror, made of 18 individual segments, will be folded up inside the rocket that carries the telescope into orbit. Engineers are constructing the frame at the back of the mirror that will adjust Webb’s segments to achieve a single perfect focus.

“Behind the Webb” is an ongoing series that follows the construction of the Webb Space Telescope, Hubble’s successor. Find more episodes at Hubblesite.org.

“Behind the Webb” archive: http://webbtelescope.org/webb_telescope/behind_the_webb/archive

Webb’s protective sunshield will be folded up inside the rocket that carries it into orbit. Engineers explain the process of unfurling the sunshield from a million miles away.

“Behind the Webb” is an ongoing series that follows the construction of the Webb Space Telescope, Hubble’s successor. Find more episodes at Hubblesite.org.

“Behind the Webb” archive: http://webbtelescope.org/webb_telescope/behind_the_webb/archive

Webb’s perfectly polished, highly reflective mirrors start their life as a pile of rubble, mined from a desert in Utah. Join “Behind the Webb” as we explore a beryllium mining operation.

“Behind the Webb” is an ongoing series that follows the construction of the Webb Space Telescope, Hubble’s successor. Find more episodes at Hubblesite.org.

“Behind the Webb” archive: http://webbtelescope.org/webb_telescope/behind_the_webb/archive