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Observational Cosmology Laboratory

Observational Cosmology Laboratory, Code 665

Observational Cosmology Laboratory (665) Home

Press Releases & Web Features

Photo of the one third scale sunshield membranes undergoing final inspection
James Webb Space Telescope Sunshield Design Achieves Significant Landmark
The design of the space observatory's tennis court-sized sunshield is complete and meets mission requirements. It is now ready for manufacturing.

Release Date: 02/02/2010
artists conception of james webb space telescope
NASA's New Views of the Universe Exhibit Travels to Science Central
NASA's "New Views of the Universe" exhibit featuring the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes heads for the Science Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Release Date: 01/21/2010
Photo of six of the eighteen James Webb Space Telescope mirror segments are being prepped to move into the X-ray and Cryogenic Facility for testing
Mirror Testing at NASA Breaks Superstitious Myths
In mythological times reflective surfaces like shiny mirrors were credited with the ability to look into the future. But NASA is using mirrors to look into the past.

Release Date: 01/07/2010
Computer generated image of the MIRI Instrument
New Video Reveals Secrets of Webb Telescope's MIRI
It's going to take infrared eyes to see farther back in time than even the Hubble, and that's what the James Webb Space Telescope's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) detectors will do.

Release Date: 12/29/2009
map of temperature fluctuations in the cosmic background radiation
COBE Satellite Marks 20th Anniversary
NASA's Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite rocketed into Earth orbit on Nov. 18, 1989, and quickly revolutionized our understanding of the early cosmos.

Release Date: 11/17/2009
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Laboratory News

Dominic Benford to serve on NASA Advisory Committee
Dominic Benford has recently been selected to serve on the JDEM Interim Science Working Group (ISWG). This working group will advise the JDEM Project on mission concept design and science requirements.

Release Date: 11/18/2009
Several ASD scientists have been selected to serve on important NASA advisory committees/working groups.
Aki Roberge (667) has been appointed to the Exoplanetary Program Analysis Group (ExoPAG). This group reports to the NASA Advisory Committee (NAC) astrophysics subcommittee (APS). Sally Heap (667) serves on this subcommittee. Dominic Benford (665) has recently been selected to serve on the JDEM Interim Science Working Group (ISWG). This working group will advise the JDEM Project on mission concept design and science requirements.

Release Date: 11/18/2009
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Overview

The Observational Cosmology Laboratory conducts research to improve understanding of the origin, evolution and ultimate fate of the universe. Specific issues under investigation include what powered the Big Bang; the size, shape, and matter-energy content of the universe; when the first stars and galaxies appeared and their evolution over cosmic time; and the nature of the mysterious dark energy that is driving the universe apart.

comparison of COBE and WMAP results
A comparison of all-sky image of temperature fluctuations in the early universe with COBE (upper image) and the WMAP (lower image). Science operations for WMAP are conducted in the ASD (Bennett, PI)

Contact Us

Dr. Jonathan P Gardner
301.286.3938
  • Chief [665]