but it has finally left earth. and should everything continue to go well, it is going to be amazing. joining us now. somebody who has been watching and waiting for this mission for years. host of planetary radio. the society weekly pod cast devoted to space exploration. give it a listen. thank you for being with us. first of all, does it feel real yet that this thing actually got off the ground and gop from being just a conception to a reality. this telescope billions of dollars over budget. years behind schedule. but it s in space. thank goodness. so many of us have been waiting so many years. many people from the beginning of the planning of this telescope for nearly 30 years for what is happening in space right now. and you re right. we have a long way to go. before it is completely deployed. so far so good.