Northrop Conducts STEM Outreach Efforts Via UK Screening of James Webb Space Telescope Documentary

Northrop Grumman has screened in the U.K. a documentary film on NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope as part of the company’s efforts to encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

The film Into the Unknown focuses on the development of the space telescope designed to launch in late 2018 to gather information on the formation of the first stars and galaxies, Northrop said Thursday.

“Northrop Grumman is committed to supporting STEM learning programs, and these screenings of Into the Unknown enabled us to share and bring to life the opportunities that there are for young people to become tomorrow’s space scientists,” said Andrew Tyler, CEO of Northrop’s European arm.

The space telescope is a joint project of NASA, Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency and consists of four components: telescope, sunshield, spacecraft and the integrated science instrument module.

Northrop designs and develops the telescope’s sunshield, optics and spacecraft under a contract with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

The Northrop Grumman Foundation developed the documentary film that was screened in various locations in the U.K. during the first week of July.