Life on other planets: The Brazilian working in NASA’s Space Telescope set for Christmas launch

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The US$10 billion project built in the United States under NASA’s direction, includes devices from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

Storm Group CEO Wanderley Abreu Jr. has been working on the project since 2014 and is conducting the final testing phase: “This is the biggest step humanity has ever taken to find out if there is intelligent life on other planets and if there are other Earth-like planets.”

Wanderley, a mechatronics engineer and specialist in critical systems with over 20 years experience in institutions such as NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency, will complete the project in the telescope’s communication with Earth. As the instrument will be 1.5 million km from Earth, in a point called Earth-Sun Lagrange L2, the Brazilian’s mission was to optimize data to reach Earth with the least possible interference.

“In practice, I pass a hair through the eye of a needle. The data that will come from the other side of the moon must be optimized to reach Earth. They are clear long telemetry images,” Wanderley said. The Brazilian is part of a team of hundreds of experts who have been working on the telescope for 20 years.

LAUNCHING

The launch of the James Webb (JWST) by an Ariane 5 rocket has been delayed several times, due to tests and final adjustments. It is now scheduled to be launched today, December 24, Christmas Eve. The date has been confirmed on Arianespace’s Twitter.

“It’s like a new window opening into the universe. With the James Webb space telescope you will be able to see the composition of other planets’ atmospheres and take pictures of them, for instance, and this will have a major consequence for humanity, to know that you are not alone in the universe,” Wanderley said.

INNOVATION

The James Webb will be the successor to the Hubble space telescope. One of the main differences between the two is their locations, size (the James Webb is larger) and the new telescope’s ability to capture more light and see further away.

THE BRAZILIAN WHO WORKED ON THE JAMES WEBB’S COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

In addition to his educational background, Wanderley de Abreu Jr. has experience in the space field. He is a specialist in critical systems with over 20 years experience in institutions such as NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency.

In the late 90’s, working together with Rio de Janeiro Prosecutor Romero Lyra, he developed, operated and perfected the first Prosecutor’s Office for Electronic Investigations in Brazil, which eventually led to the identification of over 200 pedophiles in the first operation against online pedophilia in Brazil – Operation Cathedral.

Wanderley is also a professor and instructor at the Training Course on Prevention and Countering Asymmetric Threats and NBQRE. He was awarded the Tiradentes Medal by the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly in 2021.

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