[MUSIC PLAYING] It's day one of NASA's three day exhibit at this year's South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, a great way for people to learn more about what comes after Hubble. So Amber, tell us a little bit about what this is, and why did you guys come to this festival? 

Well, this is the full scale model of the James Webb Space Telescope. So this is a successor to Hubble. And we're building it to answer those big science questions that Hubble can't quite answer. 

And we wanted to bring it here to Austin, because this is such a great festival. And also, because Texas has a really big part in testing the James Webb Space Telescope. So in just a few years, the telescope will go down to Johnson Space Center in Houston for a big test in the huge Chamber A. 

After checking out the full scale model of the Webb Telescope, you can walk towards NASA's huge tent. But before you get there, you walk by something that looks like an outdoor museum. You can learn about what Webb is going to teach us, when it's going to be ready for launch, and just why sometimes it's being referred to as a real life transformer. So once you're inside the tent, there's all sorts of interesting things to see and do. So what do you have here? 

Well, this is the Ball Aerospace booth. And we build all of the mirrors for the James Webb Space Telescope. So we have models of each one of them. And what's great is, it allows us to see what's actually going on the backside where we have to have motors to move the mirrors around to position them. And you can also see how we take the material out to make the mirrors light enough to launch. 

So these are not actually the full scale model. 

No, the full scale is much larger. But these give an accurate representation. We also have an example here of the reflective gold coating that we put on the mirrors that's highly reflective in the infrared wavelengths for James Webb operates. 

So Eileen, what's going on over here? 

So over here, we have an infrared camera like what's going to be on the James Webb Space Telescope when he goes out in space and around 2018. So I can show you how it works. 

OK. 

Here, we have a bucket of cold ice water. 

All right. 

If you stick your hand in there-- 

Yeah, so cold. 

Very cold. 

Yeah, it is. 

And then take it out, and then show it on this screen here. You are very dark. And that is because you're very cold right there. And it's sensing temperatures. We can brighten you up here. And here is the best thing to use the heat come down some. 

Oh, wow. Look at that. Thanks. 

It's like you're on fire. 

So I'm a blonde, at least in infrared. 

Yeah, now you're a blonde. 

Great. 

The infrared camera, you can see through transparent objects. So like this bag-- 

OK. 

If you put your hand in here, you're going to be able to see through it. But what's happening on the telescope is when it goes out in space, it's going to use this camera to see through dusty cloud formations. 

Right. So and that's what this black bag represents. 

Yeah, exactly. 

It's the whole concept. And it'll be able to see stars, and planets, and galaxy formations, and stuff that you can't see in the visible light. 

And if you want to find out more about astronomy and Webb, you can sit in on one of the sessions at the NASA theater. 

It's launching in October of 2018. 

So can I get my picture taken here? 

Absolutely. All you have to do is have a seat, and we'll take your picture. And it'll print out in a couple of minutes. 

Great. 

Have a seat. 

You just want to look at the camera, the red circle there. I'll give you a count down. One, two, three. 

All right. I'll put some information about the James Webb Space Telescope on the back. And here is your picture. 

Great. See? I can take Webb home with me. But before you call it a day, make sure you stop by the special NASA booth at the Palmer Center next door. So what's going on over here? 

We have a display here of a quarter size of the mirror. If you stand on the feet-- 

OK. 

And you look down and look into the various mirrors, it'll give you an idea of how big the mirror actually is. 

And how small I am. 

And how small you are. And it's a little easier to get the perception of how big the mirror is than looking at them at full scale model outside. Right? Because the mirror is way up in the sky. It's a little hard to-- 

Get that perspective. 

Get attached to our beautiful mirror. 

This special exhibit goes through Sunday and is free to the public. Thanks for joining us for this special edition of Behind the Webb at South by Southwest. 

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