NationMaster - Encyclopedia: James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a planned space infrared observatory, intended to be a significant improvement on the aging Hubble Space Telescope. JWST is an international collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Formerly called the Next Generation Space Telescope (or NGST), it was renamed after NASA's second administrator, James E. Webb, in 2002. The telescope's launch is planned for no earlier than June 2013. It will be launched on an Ariane 5 rocket.^[1] Image File history File links Gnome_globe_current_event. ... ISS in earth orbit. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2550x2100, 1776 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Ares V Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Download high resolution version (1350x1050, 340 KB)James Webb Space Telescope artists conception [1]. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (IPA [ËˆnÃ¦sÉ™]) is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nations public space program. ... This article is about the European Space Agency. ... The Canadian Space Agency (CSA or, in French, lAgence spatiale canadienne, ASC) is the Canadian government space agency responsible for Canadas space program. ... A contour plot of the effective potential (the Hills Surfaces) of a two-body system (the Sun and Earth here), showing the five Lagrange points. ... The Forststernwarte Jena 50cm Cassegrain telescope. ... For other uses, see Wavelength (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... This article is about focal length related to lenses and systems of lenses. ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a telescope in orbit around the Earth, named after astronomer Edwin Hubble. ... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (IPA [ËˆnÃ¦sÉ™]) is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nations public space program. ... ESA redirects here. ... The Canadian Space Agency (CSA or, in French, lAgence spatiale canadienne, ASC) is the Canadian government space agency responsible for Canadas space program. ... James E. Webb James Edwin Webb (October 7, 1906â€“March 27, 1992) was the second administrator of NASA, serving from February 14, 1961 to October 7, 1968. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... 2013 (MMXIII) will be a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ariane 5 mock-up Ariane 5 is a European expendable launch system designed to deliver satellites into geostationary transfer orbit and to send payloads to Low Earth orbit. ...

Mission

The JWST's primary scientific mission has four main components: to search for light from the first stars and galaxies which formed in the Universe after the Big Bang; to study the formation and evolution of galaxies; to understand the formation of stars and planetary systems; and to study planetary systems and the origins of life. Due to a combination of redshift, dust obscuration, and the intrinsically low temperatures of many of the sources to be studied, the JWST must operate at infrared wavelengths, spanning the wavelength range from 0.6 to 28 micrometres. In order to ensure that the observations are not hampered by infrared emission from the telescope and instruments themselves, the entire observatory must be cold, well-shielded from the Sun so that it can radiatively cool to roughly 40 kelvin (−233.15 °C, −387.67 °F). To this end, JWST will incorporate a large metalized fanfold sunshield, which will unfurl to block infrared radiation from the Sun, as well as from the Earth and Moon. The telescope's location at the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point ensures that the Earth and Sun occupy roughly the same relative position in the telescope's view, and thus make the operation of this shield possible. The observatory is due to be launched no earlier than June 2013 and is currently scheduled to be launched by an Ariane 5 from Guiana Space Centre Kourou, French Guiana, into an L2 orbit with a launch mass of approximately 6.2 t. After a commissioning period of approximately 6 months, the observatory will begin the science mission, which will be required to last a minimum of 5 years. The potential for extension of the science mission beyond this period exists, and the observatory is being designed accordingly. For other uses, see Light (disambiguation). ... This article is about the astronomical object. ... For other uses, see Galaxy (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Universe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Big Bang (disambiguation). ... In astrophysics, the questions of galaxy formation and evolution are: How, from a homogeneous universe, did we obtain the very heterogeneous one we live in? How did galaxies form? How do galaxies change over time? A spectacular head-on collision between two galaxies is seen in this NASA Hubble Space... Star formation is the process by which dense parts of molecular clouds collapse into a ball of plasma to form a star. ... The accretion theory, in astrophysics, is a scientific theory of the formation of our Solar system. ... An artists concept of a protoplanetary disc. ... This article focuses on modern scientific research on the origin of life. ... This article is about the physical phenomenon. ... For other uses, see Infrared (disambiguation). ... A micrometre (American spelling: micrometer, symbol Âµm) is an SI unit of length equal to one millionth of a metre, or about a tenth of the diameter of a droplet of mist or fog. ... Sol redirects here. ... For other uses, see Kelvin (disambiguation). ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... Sol redirects here. ... This article is about Earth as a planet. ... This article is about Earths moon. ... In celestial mechanics, the Lagrangian points, (also Lagrange point, L-point, or libration point) are the five stationary solutions of the circular restricted three-body problem. ... Ariane 5 mock-up Ariane 5 is a European expendable launch system designed to deliver satellites into geostationary transfer orbit and to send payloads to Low Earth orbit. ... The Guiana Space Centre (French: Centre Spatial Guyanais) is a French/European spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana. ... Kourou is a town and commune in French Guiana. ... This article is about the metric tonne. ...

Optics

Although JWST has a planned mass half that of the Hubble, its primary mirror (a 6.5 meter diameter beryllium reflector) has a collecting area which is almost 6 times larger. As this diameter is much larger than any current launch vehicle, the mirror is composed of 18 hexagonal segments, which will unfold after the telescope is launched. These mirrors are currently being developed by Axsys Technologies in Cullman, Alabama. Sensitive micromotors and a wavefront sensor will position the mirror segments in the correct location, but subsequent to this initial configuration they will only rarely be moved; this process is therefore much like an initial calibration, unlike terrestrial telescopes like the Keck which continually adjust their mirror segments using active optics to overcome the effects of gravitational and wind loading. General Name, symbol, number beryllium, Be, 4 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, period, block 2, 2, s Appearance white-gray metallic Standard atomic weight 9. ... For other uses, see Hexagon (disambiguation). ... Cullman is a city in Cullman County, Alabama, United States and is considered a part of Greater Birmingham. ... In optics, a wavefront is the locus (a line or surface in an electromagnetic wave) of points having the same phase. ... calibration refers to the process of determining the relation between the output (or response) of a measuring instrument and the value of the input quantity or attribute, a measurement standard. ... The W. M. Keck Observatory is home to the two largest optical/near-infrared telescopes at the 4,145 meter (13,600 ft) summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. ... Active optics is a relatively new technology for reflecting telescopes. ...

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. is the principal optical subcontractor for the JWST program, led by prime contractor Northrop Grumman Space Technology, under a contract from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, Maryland. Seventeen additional primary mirror segments, secondary, and tertiary mirrors, plus flight spares, will be delivered to Ball Aerospace from its beryllium mirror manufacturing team that includes Axsys, Brush Wellman, and Tinsley Laboratories. As each additional mirror is delivered to Ball Aerospace over the next four years (to 2010), it will be mounted onto a lightweight, actuated strong-back assembly and undergo functional and environmental testing. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 600 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolutionâ€Ž (2,048 Ã— 2,048 pixels, file size: 2. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 600 Ã— 600 pixelsFull resolutionâ€Ž (2,048 Ã— 2,048 pixels, file size: 2. ... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (IPA [ËˆnÃ¦sÉ™]) is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nations public space program. ... This article is about the European Space Agency. ... Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. ... Location in Maryland Coordinates: County Prince Georges County Incorporated 1937 Government - Mayor Judith F. Davis (D) Area - City 15. ...

NASA has indicated that they will be incorporating microshutters, each about 100 by 200 micrometres, into the optics of the James Webb Space Telescope's Near InfraRed Spectrograph. An array of 62,000 of the shutters will sit in front of the spectrograph's 8 megapixel infrared detector. The microshutters will create an effect similar to a human eye squinting. When one squints, one's eyelashes block light, in the same way, the microshutters allow the telescope to focus on the faint light of stars and galaxies even if they are adjacent to brighter objects. ^[2] It has been suggested that Leaf shutter be merged into this article or section. ... A micrometre (American spelling: micrometer, symbol Âµm) is an SI unit of length equal to one millionth of a metre, or about a tenth of the diameter of a droplet of mist or fog. ... An individual with an small extropic strabismus Strabismus (sometimes called crossed or wandering eye) is a disorder of the eyes involving a lack of coordination between the muscles of the eyes. ... A closed eye, displaying lashes The eye now open — lashes less visible An eyelash or simply lash is one of the hairs that grow at the edge of the eyelid. ...

Current status

The JWST program is in its preliminary design phase (Phase B). In January 2007 nine of the ten technology development items in the program successfully passed a non-advocate review. These technologies were deemed sufficiently mature to retire significant risks in the program. The remaining technology development item (the MIRI cryocooler) completed its technology maturation milestone in April 2007. This technology review represented the beginning step in the process that will ultimately move the program into its detailed design phase (Phase C).

In April 2006 the program was independently reviewed following a replanning phase begun in August 2005. The review concluded the program was technically sound, but that funding phasing at NASA needed to be changed. NASA has rephased its JWST budgets accordingly. The August 2005 replanning was necessitated by the cost growth revealed in Spring 2005. The primary technical outcomes of the replanning are significant changes in the integration and test plans, a 22-month launch delay (from 2011 to 2013), and elimination of system level testing for observatory modes at wavelength shorter than 1.7 micrometres. Other major features of the observatory are unchanged following the replanning efforts.

In May 2007 the cost of the project was estimated at about US$ 4.5 billion. USD redirects here. ...

Construction and engineering

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland is leading the management of the observatory project. The project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope is Dr. John C. Mather. Northrop Grumman Space Technology serves as the primary contractor for the development and integration of the observatory. They are responsible for developing and building the spacecraft element, which includes both the spacecraft bus and sunshield. Ball Aerospace has been subcontracted to develop and build the Optical Telescope Element (OTE). Goddard Space Flight Center is also responsible for providing the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM). Aerial view of Goddard Space Flight Center. ... Location in Maryland Coordinates: County Prince Georges County Incorporated 1937 Government - Mayor Judith F. Davis (D) Area - City 15. ... John Cromwell Mather (b. ... The Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) is an aerospace and defense conglomerate that is the result of a 1994 merger between Northrop and Grumman. ... Aerial view of Goddard Space Flight Center. ...

The ISIM contains four science instruments. NIRCam (Near InfraRed Camera) is an infrared imager which will have a spectral coverage ranging from the edge of the visible (0.6 microns) through the Near Infrared (5 microns). The NIRCam will also serve as the observatory's wavefront sensor, which is required for wavefront sensing and control activities. The NIRCam is being built by a team led by the University of Arizona, with Principal Investigator Dr. Marcia Rieke. The industrial partner is Lockheed-Martin's Advanced Technology Center located in Palo Alto, California. The University of Arizona (UA or U of A) is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. ... Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is a leading multinational aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology company formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta. ... Location in Santa Clara County and the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County Santa Clara Government - Mayor Yoriko Kishimoto[1] Area - City 25. ...

In addition to the Near Infrared (NIR) imaging capabilities of the NIRCam, the observatory will also perform spectrography over this range with the NIRSpec (Near InfraRed Spectrograph). NIRSpec is being built by the European Space Agency at ESTEC in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, leading a team involving Astrium GmbH, Ottobrunn and Friedrichshafen, Germany, and the Goddard Space Flight Center: the NIRSpec project scientist is Dr. Peter Jakobsen. The NIRSpec design provides 3 observing modes: a low resolution mode using a prism, an R~1000 multi-object mode and an R~3000 integral field unit or long-slit spectroscopy mode. Switching of the modes is done by operating a wavelength preselection mechanism called Filter Wheel Assembly and selecting a correspondant dispersive element (prism or grating)using the Grating Wheel Assembly mechanism. Both mechanisms are based on the successful ISOPHOT wheel mechanisms of the Infrared Space Observatory. The mechanisms and their optical elements are being designed, integrated and tested by Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH of Oberkochen, Germany, under contract from Astrium. In physics, spectrophotometry is the quantitative study of spectra. ... ESA redirects here. ... The European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) is ESAs main technology development and test centre for spacecraft and space technology. ... Noordwijk (population: 24,707 in May 2006), formerly known as NoordwÃ¿k, is a municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. ... Aerial view of Goddard Space Flight Center. ... The Infrared Space Observatory (ISO)is a space telescope for infrared light designed and operated by the European Space Agency (ESA). ... Carl Zeiss in middle age. ...

The mid-IR wavelength range will be measured by the MIRI (Mid InfraRed Instrument), which contains both a mid-IR camera and spectrometer that has a spectral range extending from 5 to 27 micrometres. MIRI is being developed as a collaboration between NASA and a consortium of European countries, and is led by Dr. George Rieke (University of Arizona) and Dr. Gillian Wright (UK Astronomy Technology Centre, Edinburgh, part of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)). MIRI features similar wheel mechanisms as NIRSpec which are also developed and built by Carl Zeiss Optronics GmbH under contract from the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg. The University of Arizona (UA or U of A) is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. ... The UK Astronomy Technology Centre is based at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh, Scotland. ... For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ... The Max Planck Institute for Astronomy is a part of the Max Planck Society. ...

The FGS (Fine Guidance Sensor), led by the Canadian Space Agency under project scientist Dr. John Hutchings (Dominion Astrophysical Observatory, Victoria), is used to stabilize the line-of-sight of the observatory during science observations and also includes a 'Tunable Filter module for astronomical narrow-band imaging in the 1.5 to 5 micron wavelength range. The infrared detectors for both the NIRCam and NIRSpec modules are being provided by Teledyne Imaging Sensors (formerly Rockwell Scientific Company). The Canadian Space Agency (CSA or, in French, lAgence spatiale canadienne, ASC) is the Canadian government space agency responsible for Canadas space program. ...

NASA has also been considering adding a grapple feature so future spacecraft might visit the observatory to fix gross deployment problems, such as a stuck solar panel or antenna. However, the telescope itself would not be serviceable, so that astronauts would not be able to do things such as swapping out instruments, as has been done with the Hubble Telescope.^[3] A decision on the grapple feature is expected in 2008.^[4]^[5]

Ground support

The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, MD, has been selected as the Science and Operations Center (S&OC) for JWST. In this capacity, STScI will be responsible for the scientific operation of the telescope and delivery of data products to the astronomical community. The Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is an organization founded by NASA to manage and direct research done with the Hubble Space Telescope. ... Baltimore redirects here. ...

Public displays

In May 2007 a full-scale model of the telescope was assembled for display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall, Washington DC. The model was intended to give the viewing public a better understanding of the size, scale and complexity of the satellite. The model is significantly different from the telescope, as the model must withstand gravity and weather, so is constructed mainly of aluminum and steel, weighs 12,000 lbs (5.5 tonnes), and is approximately 80 feet long, 40 feet wide and 40 feet tall (24m x 12m x 12m). Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The Smithsonian castle, as seen through the garden gate. ... National Air and Space Museum exterior The National Air and Space Museum (NASM) of the Smithsonian Institution is a museum in Washington, D.C., United States, and is the most popular of the Smithsonian museums. ... Facing east across the Mall with ones back towards the Lincoln Memorial. ... Flag Seal Nickname: DC, The District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Location Location of Washington, D.C., with regard to the surrounding states of Maryland and Virginia. ...

The model has been on display at various places since 2005: Seattle, WA; Colorado Springs, CO; Paris, France; Greenbelt, MD; Rochester, NY; Orlando, FL; and Dublin, Ireland. The model was built by the main contractor, Northrop Grumman Space Technology.^[6] Seattle redirects here. ... Colorado Springs is most populous Home Rule Municipality in the State of Colorado. ... The Eiffel Tower has become the symbol of Paris throughout the world. ... Location in Maryland Coordinates: County Prince Georges County Incorporated 1937 Government - Mayor Judith F. Davis (D) Area - City 15. ... This article is about the city of Rochester in Monroe County. ... Nickname: Location in Orange County and the state of Florida Coordinates: , Country State Counties Orange Government - Mayor Buddy Dyer (D) Area - City 101 sq mi (261. ... This article is about the city in Ireland. ...

Gallery

See also

This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Space telescopes A space observatory is any instrument in outer space which is used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects. ... NASAs series of Great Observatories satellites were four large, powerful space-based telescopes. ... Infrared astronomy is the branch of astronomy and astrophysics which deals with objects visible in infrared (IR) radiation. ... Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. ... Artists concept of Space Interferometry Mission spacecraft The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM), also called SIM PlanetQuest, is a NASA instrument originally expected to be launched in December of 2011; however due to budget cuts it will now launch no sooner than between October 2014 and April 2015. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 308th day of the year (309th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 25th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 151st day of the year (152nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

Categories: Future spaceflights | Space telescopes | Proposed spacecraft Space telescopes A space observatory is any instrument in outer space which is used for observation of distant planets, galaxies, and other outer space objects. ... NASAs series of Great Observatories satellites were four large, powerful space-based telescopes. ... The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is a telescope in orbit around the Earth, named after astronomer Edwin Hubble. ... Illustration of CGRO The Compton Gamma Ray Observatory(CGRO) was the second of the NASA Great Observatories to be launched to space, following the Hubble Space Telescope. ... The Chandra X-ray Observatory is a satellite launched on STS-93 by NASA on July 23, 1999. ... The Spitzer Space Telescope (formerly the Space Infrared Telescope Facility [SIRTF]) is an infrared space observatory, the fourth and final of NASAs Great Observatories. ... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (IPA [ËˆnÃ¦sÉ™]) is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nations public space program. ... The Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission consists of an unmanned spacecraft called Swift, which was launched into orbit on November 20, 2004, at 17:16:00 UTC (12:16 PM, EST) by a Delta 2 7320-10C expendable launch vehicle. ... Artist depiction of the WMAP satellite at the L2 point The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) is a NASA satellite whose mission is to survey the sky to measure the temperature of the radiant heat left over from the Big Bang. ... ESA redirects here. ... For a French painter, see Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. ... This article is about the concept of integrals in calculus. ... This article is about XMM-Newton. ... Astro-E (NASA) Astro-E2 (NASA) ASTRO-E and ASTRO-EII (or Astro-E2) are Japanese X-ray astronomy satellites built primarily by JAXA. In 2000 the Astro-E launch failed (with the satellite falling into the ocean), so a replacement called Astro-EII was launched on July 10, 2005. ... The Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, is a future space-based gamma-ray telescope, designed to explore the high-energy Universe. ... The Herschel Space Observatory is a mission of the European Space Agency. ... The Kepler Mission is a space observatory being developed by NASA that will search for extrasolar planets and will only be the second space-based telescope particularly constructed for that task, the first one being COROT. For this purpose, it will observe the brightness of about 100,000 stars over... WISE or Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer is a proposed, NASA-funded scientific research project. ... The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, is future space-based X-ray telescope. ... Gaia is a European Space Agency (ESA) astrometry space mission, and a successor to the ESA Hipparcos mission. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Artists concept of Space Interferometry Mission spacecraft The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM), also called SIM PlanetQuest, is a NASA instrument originally expected to be launched in December of 2011; however due to budget cuts it will now launch no sooner than between October 2014 and April 2015. ... The Darwin Mission is a proposed European Space Agency (ESA) program designed to directly detect Earth-like planets orbiting nearby stars, and search for evidence of life on these planets. ... The LISA is the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna experiment. ... Terrestrial Planet Finder - Infrared interferometer concept The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) is a plan by NASA for a telescope system that would be capable of detecting extrasolar terrestrial planets. ... The Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE), also referred to as Explorer 66, was the first satellite built dedicated to cosmology. ... Einstein Observatory (HEAO-2) was the first fully imaging X-ray telescope put into space and the second of NASAs three High Energy Astrophysical Observatories. ... FUSE, the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer, is a space-based telescope, run by the Johns Hopkins University. ... The Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) was a space-based observatory that performed a survey of the entire sky at infrared wavelengths. ... The Eddington mission was a European Space Agency project that would have searched for Earth-like planets by 2008. ...

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