JAMES WEBB SPACE

TELESCOPE

Joseph Gabriel A. Estrella- BSCE B

 The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST or "Webb") is a
space telescope that is planned to be the successor to the
Hubble Space Telescope. The JWST will provide greatly
improved resolution and sensitivity over the Hubble, and
will enable a broad range of investigations across the fields
of astronomy and cosmology, including observing some of
the most distant events and objects in the universe, such as
the formation of the first galaxies. Other goals include
understanding the formation of stars and planets, and direct
imaging of exoplanets and novas.
 The JWST originated in 1996 as the Next Generation Space Telescope
(NGST). In 2002 it was renamed after NASA's second administrator
(1961–1968) James E. Webb (1906–1992), noted for playing a key role in
the Apollo program and establishing scientific research as a core NASA
activity.
 By 2011, the JWST project was in the final design and fabrication phase
(Phase C). As is typical for a complex design that cannot be changed once
launched, there are detailed reviews of every portion of design,
construction, and proposed operation. New technological frontiers have
been pioneered by the project, and it has passed its design reviews.
 Assembly of the hexagonal segments of the primary mirror, which
was done via robotic arm, began in November 2015 and was
completed in February 2016. Final construction of the Webb
telescope was completed in November 2016, after which extensive
testing procedures began.
 NASA delayed the JWST's launch an additional year to May
2020 after the telescope's sunshield ripped during a practice
deployment and the sunshield's cables did not sufficiently
tighten. In June 2020, NASA delayed the JWST's launch an
additional 10 months to March 2021, based on the assessment of
the independent review board convened after the failed March
2020 test deployment
 SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

 The Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) is a framework that

provides electrical power, computing resources, cooling capability as well
as structural stability to the Webb telescope. 
 Near InfraRed Camera (NIRCam) is an infrared imager which will have
a spectral coverage and will also serve as the observatory's wavefront sensor
 Near InfraRed Spectrograph (NIRSpec) will also perform spectroscopy
 over the same wavelength range. It was built by the 
European Space Agency at ESTEC in Noordwijk, Netherlands.
 Mid-InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) will measure the mid-to-long-infrared
 wavelength range from 5 to 27 micrometers. It contains both a 
mid-infrared camera and an imaging spectrometer.
 Fine Guidance Sensor and Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless
Spectrograph (FGS/NIRISS)- is used to stabilize the line-of-sight of the
observatory during science observations.