Next Generation Space Telescope. Computer artwork of the Lockheed-Martin design for the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST). This infrared telescope will study the history of the universe. This design has an eight metre diameter mirror made up of eight computer-controlled petals" for optimum resolution. This will allow it to study objects 400 times fainter than those visible to infrared telescopes available in 2001. It has a sun shield (grey, left) to prevent solar radiation interfering with the data. The NGST will study the formation of the first galaxies and stars, which occurred between 50 and 500 million after the Big Bang. It is planned to be launched by 2009."