The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a state-of-the-art observatory that is designed to observe some of the earliest galaxies in the universe, study the formation of stars and planets, and investigate the atmospheres of exoplanets. The telescope is named after James E. Webb, who was a prominent administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the 1960s and played a key role in the Apollo space program. In this answer, we will explore the age of the James Webb Space Telescope.

The development of the JWST began in the late 1990s, and the telescope has been under construction for more than two decades. The initial concept for the telescope was proposed in 1996, and the project was formally approved by NASA in 2002. The construction of the telescope was carried out by a team of scientists, engineers, and technicians from NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

The construction of the JWST has been a long and complex process, involving numerous design challenges and technical hurdles. The telescope's primary mirror, which is made up of 18 hexagonal segments, was one of the most challenging components to design and build. Each segment was meticulously polished and coated with a thin layer of gold to enhance its reflectivity. The mirror assembly was completed in 2016, and it was subsequently integrated into the telescope's sunshield and spacecraft bus.

The testing and integration of the JWST have been ongoing since the completion of the mirror assembly. The telescope has undergone a series of rigorous tests to ensure that it can withstand the harsh environment of space and perform its scientific objectives. The testing phase has included a range of activities, such as thermal vacuum testing, vibration testing, and acoustic testing.

The JWST is scheduled to be launched into space in late 2021, and it will be deployed to a location known as the second Lagrange point (L2), which is located approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. The L2 point is a stable orbit that allows the telescope to maintain a constant position relative to the Earth and the sun. Once in orbit, the telescope will undergo a commissioning phase, during which its instruments and systems will be tested and calibrated.

In summary, the James Webb Space Telescope is a cutting-edge observatory that has been under construction for more than two decades. The telescope's development has involved a large and diverse team of scientists, engineers, and technicians from NASA, ESA, and CSA. The telescope is scheduled to be launched into space in late 2021, and it will undergo a commissioning phase to ensure that it can perform its scientific objectives. The age of the JWST can be measured from its initial proposal in 1996 to its eventual launch in 2021, which makes it one of the most long-awaited and ambitious space projects in history.