This documentary spent over 1 hour talking about the things that could have gone wrong about the launch of the greatest and most complicated space research project ever. Such shame. JWST is the most amazing and complex piece of engineering we ever produced and successfully launched into space. Yes, lots of things could have gone wrong, but they didn't. Unknown: The Cosmic Time Machine won't spend any time highlighting the astonishing, breakthrough technology and science that went into the making of JWST. You won't learn much about the stunning pictures it takes, why we needed it to begin with. Nothing is said about the main point of this project; how seeing the images from the beginning of time help us understand who we are, and perhaps, why we are here.
20 Reviews
Entertaining AND educational
paul-allaer1 August 2023
As "Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine" (2023 release; 64 min.) opens, it is "13.8 Billion Years Ago" as the voice-over reminds us that is when the Big Bang occurred. We then go to "December 25, 2021" and the countdown for the launch of the James Web Space Telescope is on... Just before takeoff, we go back i1990 when the Hubble Space Telescope launched. At this point we are less than 10 minutes into the documentary.
Couple of comments: this documentary does a great job explaining some of te background as to what it is the James Webb Space Telescope actually does which its predecessor didn't do. Much attention is given to the 344 "single-point failures" which the 10,000 men and women who worked on the Webb for several decades, must avoid, an almost Herculean challenge. The big pay-off comes in the last 10-15 minutes when we get the spectacular photos which the Webb is now collecting, along with a treasure-trove of related data. One of the photo's shows a galaxy "being born" 13.2 billion years ago (yes, not all that long after the big bang). It also made me think how planet Earth has been fundamentally ravaged with in just the last 250 years or so (since the Industrial Revolution). This does not bode well for the future of humankind...Meanwhile, enjoy this every entertaining AND educational documentary. Can be viewed by anyone from ages 7 to 77.
"Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine" started streaming on Netflix a few days ago. If you have any interest in space or in human explorations, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this documentary does a great job explaining some of te background as to what it is the James Webb Space Telescope actually does which its predecessor didn't do. Much attention is given to the 344 "single-point failures" which the 10,000 men and women who worked on the Webb for several decades, must avoid, an almost Herculean challenge. The big pay-off comes in the last 10-15 minutes when we get the spectacular photos which the Webb is now collecting, along with a treasure-trove of related data. One of the photo's shows a galaxy "being born" 13.2 billion years ago (yes, not all that long after the big bang). It also made me think how planet Earth has been fundamentally ravaged with in just the last 250 years or so (since the Industrial Revolution). This does not bode well for the future of humankind...Meanwhile, enjoy this every entertaining AND educational documentary. Can be viewed by anyone from ages 7 to 77.
"Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine" started streaming on Netflix a few days ago. If you have any interest in space or in human explorations, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
Too long winded but some good info
jerry-3259012 August 2023
Why do women always begin something by saying 'when I was a little girl.....'? Or something about "me"? The personal stories of people involved in James webb are irrelevant. Maybe a few seconds would be enough, and not tens of minutes. The James Webb project was the reason to watch the show. While the telescope did end up extremely exciting and it's changing our views about the age of the universe and possibly the Big Bang theory, the show is quite boring and slow. While the woman scientist (or engineer?) was focused on herself and her emotions and experiences on the projects, the guys talked mostly about the project.
Missed a huge opportunity
tommy-huynh27 July 2023
So much potential here. They could have used this documentary as an opportunity to educate the public about the amazing science behind JWST, instead they focused most of the documentary on forced drama as if it were another brainless reality TV show. Topics they could have covered to better illustrate and educate the magic:
What is red shifting and tangible explanations on why the JWST is needed over the Hubble.
The groundbreaking use of beryllium for the mirrors and why the element was selected for its unusual properties at cryogenic temperatures.
The cryo coolers and how their novel design allows it to cool the instruments down to near absolute zero.
The damaged mirror and how the JWST is able to overcome it.
The unusual approach of physically deforming the mirror to focus the image.
Etc etc.... Could have been great but instead they took a story about one of the greatest scientific achievements in human history and chose to dumb it down to nearly worthless drivel.
What is red shifting and tangible explanations on why the JWST is needed over the Hubble.
The groundbreaking use of beryllium for the mirrors and why the element was selected for its unusual properties at cryogenic temperatures.
The cryo coolers and how their novel design allows it to cool the instruments down to near absolute zero.
The damaged mirror and how the JWST is able to overcome it.
The unusual approach of physically deforming the mirror to focus the image.
Etc etc.... Could have been great but instead they took a story about one of the greatest scientific achievements in human history and chose to dumb it down to nearly worthless drivel.
A story of human endeavour (not the cosmos)
alangageler4 August 2023
This isn't about the wonderful discoveries that JWST have delivered but instead the brilliant scientists and engineers who delivered the JWST. Stories of unsung heroes, many of whom have dedicated over 30 years of their lives to pull off the near impossible. In a world that is ever increasing reliant on technology but equally contaminated by people who disrespect expertise, this is a much needed reminder that we owe a great debt to people who not only know their stuff but who also put in the hard, gruelling yards to deliver. If you want to explore what JWST has done for cosmology, I thoroughly recommend Brian Greene's recent World Science Festival interviews.
"Light In A Dark Time"
PalmBeachG12 August 2023
"Light in A Dark Time", a quote from a female astrophysicist on the show, is the best way to describe the James Webb telescope. The short documentary is definitely worth watching as it showcases the difficulty in designing, leading, getting funding, the disappointments and all hurdles that had to be overcome to be able to have the very risky and near impossible successful launch. Now that it is launched, humanity can see back in time 13 1/2 billion years ago, and the first image shared showed a massive amount of galaxies that old. I didn't give it a 10 star rating because quite honestly, if you are not an astrophysicist, and just a normal average citizen, it is extremely hard to wrap your mind around it (the shear time and distance of it) and hard to actually understand how truly awesome it is. Even by the awe on the astrophysicist's faces who do understand the meaning the Time Machine concept and distance, it is so amazing for them to comprehend it all as well at first look. Am sure it is just a first look at what is to come with more discoveries as scientists study the images.
Awe-inspiring
kunjasanthosh24 July 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The most powerful telescope ever made .. The James Webb space telescope journey through the eyes of NASA scientists really jaw dropping ...
The Documentory is unquestionably educational and inspirational to next generation scientists and astronomers.
The Documentory Makers did a commendable job in showing the difficult tests, the single point failures, the telescope unfolding at space and the way of depicting as well.
I felt my two eyes are not enough to see those beautiful images of JWST.
Really marvelous and wonderful.
This is not the feat of science, it's the feat of humanity for sure.
The Documentory is unquestionably educational and inspirational to next generation scientists and astronomers.
The Documentory Makers did a commendable job in showing the difficult tests, the single point failures, the telescope unfolding at space and the way of depicting as well.
I felt my two eyes are not enough to see those beautiful images of JWST.
Really marvelous and wonderful.
This is not the feat of science, it's the feat of humanity for sure.
Well made and informative.
deloudelouvain31 October 2023
This was the first of the Unknown documentaries that I watched. I chose this one as first because the subject is what interested me the most. We all are curious about the origins, about how everything started. Most likely questions that will never been answered, maybe partially, and that will be because of the James Webb telescope, an unbelievable human achievement. The documentary is well made, consisting of interviews of several people that were involved in launching the telescope. I get it that people that worked on this project for decades are getting emotional. The huge amount of money, the time spent, everything that could go wrong, it's all very stressful for those people. I would have liked more of those stunning space images. The ones they showed I've already seen them before, like most people I guess, so it would have been nice to show us some more images that were never released before. But other than that the documentary is informative and that's what its all about. A good watch if you're interested in space.
Disappointing Documentary
keikoyoshikawa14 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This documentary was surprisingly bland, not very informative, short on good insights into the James Webb space telescope project, and perhaps worst of all more of a sales pitch or propaganda rather than an educational film.
There was a point towards the end of the documentary in which a couple of senior politicians are given a cringe-worthy briefing by a NASA administrator on the first set of photos taken of the very first galaxies 13.5 billion years ago.
Throughout it all I was wondering why we are seeing this at all. What's the point? Where's the interesting stuff about designing and building the telescope? About the controversies of the naming of the telescope? About what it has done for astronomy?
This was definitely a missed opportunity and a disappointing documentary.
There was a point towards the end of the documentary in which a couple of senior politicians are given a cringe-worthy briefing by a NASA administrator on the first set of photos taken of the very first galaxies 13.5 billion years ago.
Throughout it all I was wondering why we are seeing this at all. What's the point? Where's the interesting stuff about designing and building the telescope? About the controversies of the naming of the telescope? About what it has done for astronomy?
This was definitely a missed opportunity and a disappointing documentary.
Perfect introductory documentary to JWST (besides hearing aboutv launch no prev understanding or interest...different perspective now)
dpmillerllc7 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Other than hearing the name James Webb Telescope in the news I really didn't have a good idea what this was going to be about. And I'm not even that big into space it just for whatever reason doesn't interest me like it does other people. But I do have to say this was an amazing Mission and a very good introductory documentary that that is perfect for someone with little to zero previous knowledge of telescopes in space. I could see where some science nerds (I have immediate family that belong; I didn't get blessed with those genes) might be disappointed it was definitely not technical, but that wasn't the audience it was trying to reach.
And for the person who gave 2/10 stores and complained that it's 5 minutes of actual content did you read the description? I didn't think it had any filler. It was well balanced and I can go look at photos anytime it'll be producing them for the next decade plus... doc starts with some history of telescope program, the insane construction process and the insane 344 "single point failures" meaning that if any 1 of 344 processes failed it would essentially terminate the satellite effectiveness and its mission. And oh by the way they had to do about a quarter of the processes without visual confirmation when the satellite was a million miles away from Earth. Yes I said that right a million miles away from Earth. Anyways it was more than I expected and if anything I've gained a appreciation for the scientists and engineers the stress they were under and what impressive people they are.
And for the person who gave 2/10 stores and complained that it's 5 minutes of actual content did you read the description? I didn't think it had any filler. It was well balanced and I can go look at photos anytime it'll be producing them for the next decade plus... doc starts with some history of telescope program, the insane construction process and the insane 344 "single point failures" meaning that if any 1 of 344 processes failed it would essentially terminate the satellite effectiveness and its mission. And oh by the way they had to do about a quarter of the processes without visual confirmation when the satellite was a million miles away from Earth. Yes I said that right a million miles away from Earth. Anyways it was more than I expected and if anything I've gained a appreciation for the scientists and engineers the stress they were under and what impressive people they are.
Look back in time with James Webb
sulemansaeeed9 February 2024
"Unknown: Cosmic Time Machine"
In this movie, you will see the hard work and the process of how amazing the James Webb telescope was built. It also tells you that it had 344 single point failures, which means if you encounter any of the single point failures, you're gonna lose the mission. It seems impossibly difficult to do such great work, with so much possibility of failure.
Jane's Webb telescope was an old mission, which was initiated when the Hubble Space telescope was pointed for many days at an empty point in space. And what turns out to be after that, was truly amazing and spectacular. Afterwards, Hubble took many images of distant galaxies and stars and other constellations.
So they decided to make James Webb, which also got some criticism later on. Also it had to have a high budget, of billions of dollars, to make it happen.
After all, it was launched in 2021, and it deployed very well in space, where it was placed at L2 point, L2 point has a balance of earth's and sun's gravitational force. And this point is around one million miles from earth, which equals more than 1.5 million kilometres.
I love the fact that how easily we can see back in time and how far we can see back in time, this is awesome man.
The farther you look, the farther you look back in time, because light takes time to travel through space.
In this movie, you will see the hard work and the process of how amazing the James Webb telescope was built. It also tells you that it had 344 single point failures, which means if you encounter any of the single point failures, you're gonna lose the mission. It seems impossibly difficult to do such great work, with so much possibility of failure.
Jane's Webb telescope was an old mission, which was initiated when the Hubble Space telescope was pointed for many days at an empty point in space. And what turns out to be after that, was truly amazing and spectacular. Afterwards, Hubble took many images of distant galaxies and stars and other constellations.
So they decided to make James Webb, which also got some criticism later on. Also it had to have a high budget, of billions of dollars, to make it happen.
After all, it was launched in 2021, and it deployed very well in space, where it was placed at L2 point, L2 point has a balance of earth's and sun's gravitational force. And this point is around one million miles from earth, which equals more than 1.5 million kilometres.
I love the fact that how easily we can see back in time and how far we can see back in time, this is awesome man.
The farther you look, the farther you look back in time, because light takes time to travel through space.
Beautiful and educational
mrandrewreeves28 July 2023
What an inspiration to us all the accomplishment that can be made when everyone has one goal! The pictures are absolutely beautiful and the thought and visuals of what is really out there is amazing. Without us seeing behind the scenes and all the work that went into it we would just take it for granted. Thank goodness for this film for showing us all what we really don't know behind the scenes. We just get to see the pictures from online but this film was detailed in showing us the hardworking people and the nervousness that goes into everything before the rest of us gets to see it.
There was only one character/astrophysicist that was really. Too much gibberish for me I fast forward her parts. I want to know the educational and the story and people behind the scenes.
There was only one character/astrophysicist that was really. Too much gibberish for me I fast forward her parts. I want to know the educational and the story and people behind the scenes.
Atrocious!
charles-limcw29 July 2023
In over an hour there's barely 5 mins of actual content that directly relate to the Webb telescope itself.
There is so so much of unnecessary nonsensical fillers it's just ridiculous!
Unknown alright. Viewers still know almost next to nothing about the Webb telescope, nothing more than a cutesy science phamlet for 8 yr olds at the school exhibition.
Even solo contributors have put out much much better YouTube content about the Webb telescope.
Scenes of people jogging, family photos, nobodies (to the viewers) talking about their 'feelings'??? Huh????
Giving it 2/10 makes me 'feel' so so generous. 🙄
There is so so much of unnecessary nonsensical fillers it's just ridiculous!
Unknown alright. Viewers still know almost next to nothing about the Webb telescope, nothing more than a cutesy science phamlet for 8 yr olds at the school exhibition.
Even solo contributors have put out much much better YouTube content about the Webb telescope.
Scenes of people jogging, family photos, nobodies (to the viewers) talking about their 'feelings'??? Huh????
Giving it 2/10 makes me 'feel' so so generous. 🙄
One of the worst documentaries out there
naty_n8422 August 2023
A waste of time, in the end you learn almost nothing about the telescope. Unfortunately it focuses too much about 3 or 4 people that were on the project (talking about their feelings, showing reaction videos, watching their families... why??) and leaves out really important information.
There are so many things left unanswered, there is lack of information, too much politics...
Is this how documentaries are nowadays? I guess reading about it in Wikipedia could be more interesting.
And please, next time bring someone who can actually speak not as annoyingly as the narrators of this documentary.
There are so many things left unanswered, there is lack of information, too much politics...
Is this how documentaries are nowadays? I guess reading about it in Wikipedia could be more interesting.
And please, next time bring someone who can actually speak not as annoyingly as the narrators of this documentary.
Started promising...
wilkinscolette29 August 2023
Promising start but mid way in the doumentary took a turn away from the telescope to take a 15 minute ego trip about one guy out of the ~1,000 people who conceptualized, designed, engineered, built, launched, executed deployment, maintain, and analyze data. It was absurd and interrupted the entire flow of the documentary. The guy was ego tripping so hard, they had him talking about his workout routine and how many miles he runs.
Unwatchable at that point. Imagine reading a literary masterpiece and the author stops the storyline to brag about themselves, writing process, life experiences, etc.
Unwatchable at that point. Imagine reading a literary masterpiece and the author stops the storyline to brag about themselves, writing process, life experiences, etc.
Couldn't listen to one minute
rawena_bll2 August 2023
The female voice of this documentary is the one most annoying sound I have ever heard in 30 years. I was incredibly interested in the subject and wanted to know more but I could NOT listen to that monotone valley girl voice for even a minute nor I could understand how could anyone find this acceptable as a documentary. She desperately needs classes on emphasis and intonation. I mean what happened to Morgan Freeman and all those actually nice voices. I don't know who Amber is but speaking, reading is not her strong suit and I wish producers noticed that.
I have nothing else to say about this production because I was not able to watch it and I'm very salty about it because the subject is super interesting.
I have nothing else to say about this production because I was not able to watch it and I'm very salty about it because the subject is super interesting.
Hyperbolic junk...
onis_uk3 September 2023
What a waste, I thought this was going to be about the making, launch and operation of JWST. Instead it's just a over hyped ego trip for some very dumb people who no one cares about...the boss of the operation is the biggest t**t I've seen on TV in a while, really does rate himself. This should have been about the science and the telescope not the people and their amazing egos, they all burned through billions of dollars that could have been used to help actual humans on earth instead of looking at distance galaxies that doesn't really effect anyone, seems like such a waste of money really, how do they get away with it?
"OMG I cant bulllleeve..."
benft6 September 2023
Half of it was interesting science and tech and beautiful imagery, the other half feelgoody blather about personal details and mini-bios of people involved.
The early development and various designs was glossed over by a guy petting his dog going through wrinkled papers on the dining-room table. Should have been more about why it uses infrared light and red-shifting of distant galaxies, why the Arianespace base in in south america. And so on.
The worst parts were the segments with the airheaded valley girl types on the phone screens jumping up and down saying "Ohmygod" "yay" etc. Gag me.........
The early development and various designs was glossed over by a guy petting his dog going through wrinkled papers on the dining-room table. Should have been more about why it uses infrared light and red-shifting of distant galaxies, why the Arianespace base in in south america. And so on.
The worst parts were the segments with the airheaded valley girl types on the phone screens jumping up and down saying "Ohmygod" "yay" etc. Gag me.........
What am I watching?
lexykehhh8 September 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Why am I watching a middle aged woman sobbing about how bad the world is and how much this discovery helps?!? My god, maybe should have invested all this money to feed people that are starving, then wouldn't have to sob about that.... Everyone was just crying about their feelings in this documentary, where's the science? I came here to switch off and instead I see sobbing people, what a disappointment seriously. Money well spent... Literally learned nothing new, even though it was supposed to be a documentary, what a waste of time. Should have just watched Kardashian's, would have learned more from there...
Cliche, god , red headed white woman
olafurtheviking22 April 2024
If you want to listen to the stories of the worst types of people "working" on this telescope this is a documentary for you. Can fit all the useful and interesting information about the telescope in a 10min YouTube video.
Red headed white lady, the most cliche half hot nerd chick brings nothing.
The European dude complaining about fasteners not being tightened should of been sent up in the thing.horrible person, look him up if you want to be disgusted in humanity, nothing you can do about it, best to watch sausage dog videos instead.
Would have been nice if they sent a GoPro up with it.heavily Relies on artistic impressions instead of actual video. No the world isn't flat and yes we went to the moon.
Way too many references to god and miracles.
Humans built it.
Red headed white lady, the most cliche half hot nerd chick brings nothing.
The European dude complaining about fasteners not being tightened should of been sent up in the thing.horrible person, look him up if you want to be disgusted in humanity, nothing you can do about it, best to watch sausage dog videos instead.
Would have been nice if they sent a GoPro up with it.heavily Relies on artistic impressions instead of actual video. No the world isn't flat and yes we went to the moon.
Way too many references to god and miracles.
Humans built it.
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