The JWST Observatory: Status and Path Forward

Michael W. McElwain1, Charles W. Bowers1, Randy A. Kimble1, Malcolm B. Niedner1, Erin C. Smith1, and the JWST Project Team
1NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

JWST Observatory Overview Deployment Testing Commissioning Plans

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large (6.5 m) segmented Shortly after integration, OTIS was deployed using its deployable tower The post-launch commissioning process for JWST will
aperture telescope equipped with near- and mid-infrared instruments (0.6-28 assembly with offloading support by a specialized overhead crane and take the payload from its stowed launch configuration to
microns), all of which are passively cooled to ~40 K by a 5-layer sunshield, counterweight system. The sunshield was then deployed and tensioned as its fully deployed, cooled state, with the telescope aligned
while the mid-infrared instrument is further actively cooled to 7 K. The part of the Spacecraft Element post-environmental testing and Observatory and the instruments configured, with their observing
extensive integration and test program developed and verified two primary pre-environmental testing. Laser trackers were used to measure key modes checked out and ready for scientific observations.
elements: the telescope and science instruments, called OTIS, and the metrology points on the Observatory, such as fiducials on the spreader bars, The commissioning process is scheduled to be
spacecraft and the sunshield, called the Spacecraft Element. The two to ensure the correct deployment shape was reached. The top sunshield completed within six months after launch. A detailed
elements were recently joined to form the complete JWST Observatory. We layer is visibly sagging in the image below, which is as expected at room sequence of commissioning activities has been
describe the Observatory integration process, the Observatory-level testing temperature and in one gravity. The on-orbit sunshield shape at ~70 K and developed, with all constraints, pre-requisites, and
plans, and reference the on-orbit performance estimates. zero gravity will be similar to the rendering at left. resulting products well-defined. The image at right
Primary Mirror Primary Mirror Wings shows the JWST Observatory in its stowed configuration
Aft Optics Secondary Contamination Technician
Backplane Structure Stowed (x2) for launch, which will deploy to its operational
18 Primary Mirror Subsystem Mirror Stowed Cover for AOS for Scale
Segment Assemblies Secondary Mirror configuration over the first 12 days after launch.
Frill
N IR C am N IR S pec N IR S pec FG S M IR I C ooler M IR I M IR I
B ench B ench D etectors B ench D etector Lines S hield M in S hield M ax

Observatory Stowed Cooling

Cooler Transition to
Sunshield Fully Deployed
Cooler lines stay above Joule-Thomson Bypass
water band while SIs cool Mode (State 4)
SI Contamination
Control Heaters

NIRCam Short
Wavelength Ops

MIRI
Ops

A key input to commissioning planning is the timeline for the cooling of the
Spreader Sunshield High Gain Spacecraft Star Unitized Pallet Five Layer payload’s components to their cryogenic operational temperatures, as
Bar Mid-boom Antenna Bus Trackers Structure Sunshield The sunshield is now being folded back to its stowed configuration for the shown schematically above. The cooling time constants are long. In
Observatory environmental test program. Additional offloaded testing of the addition, heaters are employed when appropriate to prevent contamination
membrane tensioning system to simulate zero gravity ensured the cable of sensitive surfaces. For example, see the temperature plateau for the
lengths are correct. Sunshield modifications to the tensioning system and science instruments from day 10 to day ~32 where the instruments are held
corner interfaces have been completed, along with repairs necessitated by above water-condensing temperature until the surrounding sources of water
handling. The momentum trim tab, solar array, and radiator shades have all (e.g., the composite structure supporting the science instruments) cool
be removed from the Observatory for offline testing and updates as needed, below water-outgassing temperatures.
which are taking place in another facility at Northrop Grumman. Launch Vehicle Separation Telescope Alignment Commissioning Complete
L+30 m Complete L+180 d
Deployments Complete L+124 d
(including mirrors)

Future Ground Activities

MCC-1a
L+12.5 h L+25 d Slew to Cold Attitude
OTE Alignment to
NIRCam Complete L+138 d
L+74 d
MCC-1b MCC-2
L+2.5 d L+29 d Thermal Slew Ends
L+152 d

Momentum Solar Radiator Deployable Science Radiators

Trim Tab Array Shades Tower Instruments Spacecraft Commissioning Cooldown Telescope Commissioning Science Instrument Commissioning
Launch – L+29 d L+36 d – L+124 d L+124 d – L+180 d

Observatory Integration
MIRI ICE
Solar Power On Multi-Instrument NIRCam NIRSpec
Array Multi-Field Iteration 1 Multi-Instrument Commissioned Commissioned
L+8 d NIRCam Complete Multi-Field Iteration 2 L+156 d L+174 d
L+31m Power On
L+95 d Complete
NIRSpec MSA L+36 d L+121 d
Power On and
Contamination
The JWST OTIS, in its stowed configuration, was lifted with an overhead Control
L+4 d
NIRSpec
FPE & MIRI at
NIRISS/FGS
Commissioned
MIRI
Commissioned
L+161 d L+167 d
Operating Temp
crane (left) to move from its stand to a position over the Spacecraft ICE
Pow er O n
NIRISS & FG S
Pow er O n L+97 d
L+25 d L+34 d
Element, with the sunshield structures deployed and the membranes
folded (middle). OTIS was then slowly lowered onto the Spacecraft
A high-level schematic of the commissioning timeline is shown above, with
Element, and when nearly connected, there were a few precise
some key activities and milestones noted (MCC = Mid-Course Correction;
movements to avoid contact with cryocooler hardware in the core area.
ICE, MSA, and FPE are instrument subsystems). There is substantial
OTIS has six pads that connect to the SCE -- four on the bottom corners
overlap in the commissioning phases above: 1) day 0-29: spacecraft
of the telescope support structure and two at the base of the instrument
checkout and deployments, 2) day 29-36: cooldown to temperatures at
electronics compartment. The expected positions of the OTIS and SCE
which NIRCam can start operations to support telescope alignments, 3) day
were verified using optical metrology such as laser trackers. Once the
36-124: alignment and phasing of the 18 primary mirror segments and
OTIS and SCE super elements were mechanically attached, final alignment of the secondary mirror (with many internal SI checkouts in
mechanical and electrical connections were made to complete the
parallel), 4) day 124-180: commissioning of the instruments’ observing
Observatory integration (right). Functional electrical testing was
modes with an aligned telescope.
completed to ensure all electrical connections were made. Finally, soft
structure closeouts and insulation were applied to the Observatory.
These activities took place in a high bay clean room at Northrop The final testing flow above is aimed at verifying the new OTIS to SCE
interfaces and Observatory interactions. The Traveling Wave Tunable
Performance Estimates
Grumman’s Space Park facility in Redondo Beach, CA.
Amplifier (TWTA) and Command and Telemetry Processor (CTP) exhibited JWST performance estimates continue to meet requirements with margin.
anomalies as part of the Spacecraft Element testing and will be replaced. The current performance estimates can be found on JDox at https://jwst-
An electrical Comprehensive Systems Test (CST) will be carried out jdocs.stsci.edu. The Observatory performance is sensitive to many factors,
before the Observatory vibration and acoustic testing program, which will including stray light from contamination, thermal performance of the
be taken to the acceptance levels. Following these environmental tests, sunshield, short term line of sight jitter from the reaction wheels and
an Observatory deployment and CST will confirm the Observatory is cryocooler, and longer term optical thermal distortion from temperature
ready for launch. The sunshield membranes will be folded, the changes on the telescope. These JDox estimates are built upon a
Observatory will be stowed, and the Observatory will be shipped down to comprehensive Observatory test program that not only verifies functionality,
the launch site, Kourou, French Guiana, and prepared for launch on an but also provides inputs to integrated models used to predict the in-flight
Ariane 5 rocket. scientific performance.