James Webb Space Telescope

Built on

• Silicon solar cellRecorded · 1954requires
• Carbon-fibre compositesRecorded · 1963enables
• MicroprocessorRecorded · 1971requires
• Hubble Space TelescopeRecorded · 1990enables

Led to

• Interstellar comet tracked across the systemRecorded · 2025enables
• Roman wide-field space telescopeForecast · ~2027enables
• Habitable Worlds Observatory launchForecast · ~2041enables
• Biosignature detectedForecast · ~2042enables
• Direct spectrum of a habitable-zone Earth-size planetForecast · ~2050influences

Sources & evidence

• Additional source

Dataset updated 2026-10-18. This individual record has not been separately re-reviewed.