Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Few people know the James Webb Space Telescope as well as Larkin Carey. He's been with it from the beginning. Larkin worked with its mirror segments as they were being created, traveled with it from facility to facility, and prepared it for a lifetime of science. He did some of this work while suspended on tiny platforms, where even a drop of sweat could compromise the sensitive hardware.
When it came time to remove Webb's lens cap, a near-final step on its journey to space, Larkin was there, too. He shares what it was like to say goodbye to the telescope he'd spent years building in our new @NASA documentary, streaming now on plus.nasa.gov and NASA YouTube.
0:00: Workers in clean room suits in a large room with construction equipment.
0:02: Larkin, gowned in a clean room suit, mask, and gloves, lies on his stomach, positioned on an elevated board. “A NASA+ Original” appears at 0:04, backed by a blue stripe.
0:08: Larkin lies on the rising board, seen from behind.
0:11: Larkin talks to camera in regular attire.
0:15: Larkin lays on the elevated board, slowly approaching Webb’s mirrors. “Cosmic Dawn, The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope” fades in.
0:21: Larkin lies on rising board, looking up.
0:24: Larkin peeks behind a telescope lens cap labeled “Remove Before Flight.”
0:30: Larkin talks to camera. “Larkin Carey, Optical Engineer” appears.
0:36: Larkin opens a hatch and retrieves a small, black rectangle.
0:41: Larkin lays on the elevated board and examines the lens cap.
0:43: Webb’s mirrors reflect Larkin, who lays on his back and works on the lens cap above him.
0:51: Compilation of Larkin examining Webb’s lens with both close-ups and wide angles.
1:00: Black screen fades into animation of Webb assembling with starry space background. “A NASA+ Original,” “Cosmic Dawn” and “The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope” fade in.
1:04: All text fades away, replaced by “Watch Now” and “NASA+.”
Credit: NASA
Ashlee Nichols (eMITS): Producer
This video can be freely shared and downloaded at svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14834. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, the music and some individual imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on such imagery may be found here: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14834.
For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit nasa.gov/nasa-brand-center/images-and-media/. If you liked this video, subscribe to the NASA Goddard YouTube channel: youtube.com/NASAGoddard
Follow NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
· Instagram: instagram.com/nasagoddard
· X: twitter.com/NASAGoddard
· Facebook: facebook.com/NASAGoddard
· Flickr: flickr.com/photos/gsfc
Few people know the James Webb Space Telescope as well as Larkin Carey. He's been with it from the beginning. Larkin worked with its mirror segments as they were being created, traveled with it from facility to facility, and prepared it for a lifetime of science. He did some of this work while suspended on tiny platforms, where even a drop of sweat could compromise the sensitive hardware.
When it came time to remove Webb's lens cap, a near-final step on its journey to space, Larkin was there, too. He shares what it was like to say goodbye to the telescope he'd spent years building in our new @NASA documentary, streaming now on plus.nasa.gov and NASA YouTube.
0:00: Workers in clean room suits in a large room with construction equipment.
0:02: Larkin, gowned in a clean room suit, mask, and gloves, lies on his stomach, positioned on an elevated board. “A NASA+ Original” appears at 0:04, backed by a blue stripe.
0:08: Larkin lies on the rising board, seen from behind.
0:11: Larkin talks to camera in regular attire.
0:15: Larkin lays on the elevated board, slowly approaching Webb’s mirrors. “Cosmic Dawn, The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope” fades in.
0:21: Larkin lies on rising board, looking up.
0:24: Larkin peeks behind a telescope lens cap labeled “Remove Before Flight.”
0:30: Larkin talks to camera. “Larkin Carey, Optical Engineer” appears.
0:36: Larkin opens a hatch and retrieves a small, black rectangle.
0:41: Larkin lays on the elevated board and examines the lens cap.
0:43: Webb’s mirrors reflect Larkin, who lays on his back and works on the lens cap above him.
0:51: Compilation of Larkin examining Webb’s lens with both close-ups and wide angles.
1:00: Black screen fades into animation of Webb assembling with starry space background. “A NASA+ Original,” “Cosmic Dawn” and “The Untold Story of the James Webb Space Telescope” fade in.
1:04: All text fades away, replaced by “Watch Now” and “NASA+.”
Credit: NASA
Ashlee Nichols (eMITS): Producer
This video can be freely shared and downloaded at svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14834. While the video in its entirety can be shared without permission, the music and some individual imagery may have been obtained through permission and may not be excised or remixed in other products. Specific details on such imagery may be found here: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14834.
For more information on NASA’s media guidelines, visit nasa.gov/nasa-brand-center/images-and-media/. If you liked this video, subscribe to the NASA Goddard YouTube channel: youtube.com/NASAGoddard
Follow NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
· Instagram: instagram.com/nasagoddard
· X: twitter.com/NASAGoddard
· Facebook: facebook.com/NASAGoddard
· Flickr: flickr.com/photos/gsfc
