James Webb Telescope Question

[bekerteli]

I have been watching the progress of James Webb since launch. I have a question about the hot side temperature sensors. I have noticed that there is quite a difference between the a and b sensors on the hot side and as the heat shield opens the cold side is starting to equal out. Why is there such a temperature difference between the hot side sensors?

[zeno76]

I'm not sure, but I believe it's just that the cold side of the spacecraft's body hits the hot side. As a result, the section of the hot side that is exposed to the sun is cooler than the mylar-like sunshield.

Because the sunshield is surrounded by space (which is the same material as the inside of thermos bottle walls), it collects heat and cannot release it.