(The Slice): Gregory Robinson is the African American man responsible for getting the $8 billion James Webb Telescope up and running in space. It was launched into space on the Ariane 5 rocket on Christmas Day of 2021 and recently produced its first color images. The instrument captured the most detailed images of the universe to date that were previewed at the White House on Monday, June 11.
Through its unparralled infrared technology, Webb magnified a small patch of the universe that encompassed multiple ancient galaxies. This is the closest look at outer space ever. NASA said, "Webb’s image covers a patch of sky approximately the size of a grain of sand held at arm’s length by someone on the ground – and reveals thousands of galaxies in a tiny sliver of vast universe."
Robinson is NASA's director of the Webb program, one of the highest positions held by a Black manager in the organization. He initially said "no" when Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA’s associate administrator for science asked him to oversee the James Webb Telescope program after it had been stalled due to various issues for several years. But Zurbuchen knew he had the interpersonal skills and management experience to recouperate problematic projects and asked again.
The mind-boggling images that were unveiled this week would not have existed without the leadership of Mr. Robinson. His knowledge contributes to advancements in space exploration for the international space science community.
Said Robinson in a New York Times article, “Certainly people seeing me in this role is an inspiration,” Robinson said, “and also it’s acknowledging they can be there, too.”
A native of Danville, VA where his parents were tobacco sharecroppers, Robinson holds bachelors derees from two HBCUs. He earned a degree in math from Virginia Union and a degree in electrical engineering from Howard University.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLOR IMAGE FOR THE JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE HERE: https://science.nasa.gov/about-us/leadership/mr-gregory-robinson