// ORBITAL LOGISTICS AND PROPULSION TERM
James Webb
The James Webb Space Telescope is a powerful new space telescope designed to observe the universe primarily in infrared light, allowing it to see further back in time than Hubble.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large infrared space observatory launched by NASA, ESA, and CSA in 2021, designed to conduct breakthrough astronomy across multiple fields, including exoplanet characterization and early universe observation.
BACKGROUND
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope designed to conduct infrared astronomy. It is the largest telescope in space, and is equipped with high-resolution and high-sensitivity instruments, allowing it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble Space Telescope. This enables investigations across many fields of astronomy and cosmology, such as observation of the first stars and the formation of the first galaxies, and detailed atmospheric characterization of potentially habitable exoplanets.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- JWST
- Webb Telescope
- Webb
- Infrared Telescope
USAGE NOTE
The James Webb Space Telescope is providing unprecedented views of the early universe.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to James Webb.
The lead U.S. government agency for the James Webb Space Telescope project. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland managed the overall project, from development to launch and operations.
Served as the prime industrial partner for the JWST. The company was responsible for designing and producing the spacecraft bus, the deployable sunshield, and integrating the overall observatory.
A major international partner in the JWST project. ESA provided the Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) instrument and procured the Ariane 5 launch vehicle and launch services from Arianespace.
An international partner that contributed the Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) and the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) instrument to the observatory.
A principal subcontractor responsible for the design and development of the Optical Telescope Element (OTE), which includes the iconic 18-segment, beryllium primary mirror.
As a key subcontractor, L3Harris designed and built the composite structures for the telescope, including the backplane that holds the mirrors, and performed critical optical integration and testing.
Responsible for the science and flight operations of the James Webb Space Telescope. STScI manages the proposal selection process, schedules science observations, and processes the data for astronomical research.
The commercial launch service provider, selected by ESA, that successfully launched the James Webb Space Telescope into its orbit aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana.