Press Releases

Toray Celebrates the Successful Launch of the Historic James Webb Space Telescope

25 December 2021

Morgan Hill, California, December 25, 2021— Today the joint mission between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has successfully launched the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) from Kourou, French Guiana. After a decade of testing and finetuning, the most complex and powerful telescope ever constructed was sent into the stars designed to look deeper into space than its predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990.

The James Webb Telescope comprises a diverse assortment of cutting-edge technology, including Toray Advanced Composite’s innovative composite materials. In collaboration with Northrop Grumman Aerospace, Toray Advanced Composites was chosen for this mission based on their heritage within the aerospace industry of engineering and manufacturing their high-quality, highly reliable composites for the structural design of the Optical Telescope Element (OTE), the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM), and the Spacecraft Element (SCE). The James Webb Space Telescope joins Toray Advanced Composites' long list of successful launches of other well-known aerospace projects, including Mars Perseverance Rover, Mars Ingenuity helicopter, and even the Kepler Space Telescope.

The telescope is outfitted with Toray Advanced Composites’ High Modulus Carbon-Cyanate Ester prepreg resin system. The advanced composites are engineered for precise strength and stiffness mechanical performance and are lightweight to carry out the mission in the extremely challenging environment of space.

“We are honored to be included as the fiber and prepreg material supplier for JWST and I can’t think of a program more well-suited to meet Toray’s core mission of contributing to society through the creation of new value with innovative ideas, technology, and products,” says Eric Howard, Aerospace Sales Director of Toray Advanced Composites. “I think nearly all humans are inspired by the night sky on grand display, even to the unaided eye. As we extensively learned from Hubble (launched three decades ago), JWST is certain to enhance our knowledge of the heavens and is certain to foster curiosity and inspire the next generation of explorers, engineers, and scientists.”

With numerous successful deployments in association, Toray Advanced Composites continues to support modern-day explorers and scientists alike with cutting-edge, highly reliable composite solutions for the space market. To learn more about Toray Advanced Composites’ space and satellite application visit us at toraytac.com/markets/space/

About Toray Advanced Composites

Toray Advanced Composites is a leader in the development and production of advanced thermoplastic and thermoset composite materials. The broad product portfolio is incorporated in high performance products for aerospace, space, communications, automotive, consumer, and industrial applications. Toray Advanced Composites has a long heritage of combining state-of-the-art materials technology with world-class technical expertise to deliver a unique customer-centric business model. Production and operation facilities are in North America, Europe, and Asia. Toray Advanced Composites is a subsidiary of the Toray Group.

For more information visit,www.toraytac.com

For more information regarding this press release please contact:

Laura Sordello, Marketing Manager US

Toray Advanced Composites

t +1 (408) 465 8602

l.sordello@toraytac-usa.com 

Jenny Hodgson, Marketing Manager EMEA

Toray Advanced Composites

t +44 7983 291 312

j.hodgson@toraytac-europe.com 

©2021 Toray Advanced Composites. All trademarks are the property of Toray Industries Inc. unless otherwise stated.

We use cookies for social media functionalities, personalized content and analytics. By clicking 'Accept' or continuing to browse our site and clicking through, you agree to such use and the sharing of your data with our partners. To find out more about our use of cookies, our partners or how to withdraw your consent see our Cookie Policy.