Center stage at NASA's Goddard space flight center is a high tech creation designed to revolutionize astronomy.
The largest and most powerful telescope ever built.
The technology that we developed to get here.
Really are just incredible.
The engineering behind this is just mind blowing.
Taller than a three story building the James Webb telescope dwarfs its baby brother, the Hubble which has been circling earth for 27 years.
Astrophysics Amber Strong says the bigger and better successor will Open a window into space never seen before.
With this telescope, we plan to look back in time over 13.5 billion years, to see the very first galaxies that were born after the Big Bang.
NASA plans to launch the web telescope next year.
The entire thing folds up to fit inside a rocket, then unfolds in space.
First, engineers are testing to make sure it can handle the rough ride.
Then for at least two years, both the Hubble and Webb telescopes will orbit at the same time.
The Hubble has completely revolutionized our understanding of the universe.
It has changed the way that we understand how the universe works.
But with Webb we'll be able to push further and learn new things about the universe.
Strong says what she's most excited for is how the telescope will answer questions
Questions scientists haven't even thought to ask.
Kenneth Craig, CBS News.
