SSC Stenographer 2026 PYQ — Question 11

Solution: The correct answer is Unlike the Hubble Space Telescope, JWST is designed for continuous optical wavelength observation with minimal infrared capability.
Explanation:
☛ The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is primarily designed to observe in the infrared spectrum (near-infrared and mid-infrared), not the optical (visible) spectrum.
☛ In contrast, the Hubble Space Telescope observes primarily in the optical and ultraviolet spectra, with only limited infrared capability.
☛ Therefore, statement (D) is incorrect because JWST's primary strength is high-resolution infrared observation, allowing it to peer through cosmic dust and observe the earliest stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang.
Extra Exam-Relevant Facts:
☛ Launch Date & Rocket: JWST was launched on 25 December 2021 aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana.
☛ International Collaboration: It is an international mission led by NASA in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
☛ Lagrange Point 2 (L2): JWST is placed in a halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L2 point, approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.
☛ Primary Mirror: It consists of 18 hexagonal mirror segments made of gold-coated beryllium, spanning a total diameter of 6.5 meters.
☛ Sunshield: A five-layer tennis-court-sized sunshield made of Kapton protects its sensitive instruments from heat and light originating from the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
Important One-Liners for Upcoming Exams:
☛ Which agency primarily operates the Hubble Space Telescope along with ESA? → NASA
☛ What material is coated onto the primary mirror segments of JWST to optimize infrared reflection? → Gold
☛ At what distance from Earth is the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point located? → Approximately 1.5 million kilometers
☛ Which rocket launched the James Webb Space Telescope into space? → Ariane 5
☛ What polymer film is used in the sunshield of the James Webb Space Telescope? → Kapton