KEYWORDS: Astrophysics, Space telescopes, James Webb Space Telescope, Manufacturing, Telescopes, Standards development, Mirrors, Optical instrument design, Observatories, Design for manufacturability
Pursuing ground breaking science in a highly cost-constrained environment presents new challenges to the development of future space astrophysics missions. Within the conventional cost models for large observatories, executing a flagship “mission after next” appears to be unstainable. To achieve our nation’s science ambitions requires a new paradigm of system design, development and manufacture. This paper explores the nature of the current paradigm and proposes a series of steps to guide the entire community to a sustainable future.
KEYWORDS: James Webb Space Telescope, Mirrors, Space telescopes, Observatories, Stars, Galactic astronomy, Telescopes, Space operations, Cryogenics, Imaging spectroscopy
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large aperture, space telescope designed to provide imaging and
spectroscopy from 1.0 μm to 28 μm. JWST will be launched to an orbit at L2 aboard an Ariane 5 launcher in 2013. The
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is the lead center for the JWST program and manages the project for NASA. The
prime contractor for JWST is Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems (NGST). JWST is an international partnership
with the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). ESA will contribute the Ariane 5
launch, and a multi-object infrared spectrograph. CSA will contribute the Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS), which includes
the Tunable Filter Imager (TFI). The European consortium, in collaboration with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL),
builds the mid-infrared imager (MIRI). In this paper we present an overview of the JWST science program, and discuss
recent progress in the development of the observatory.
The scientific capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) fall into four themes. The End of the Dark Ages:
First Light and Reionization theme seeks to identify the first luminous sources to form and to determine the ionization
history of the universe. The Assembly of Galaxies theme seeks to determine how galaxies and the dark matter, gas,
stars, metals, morphological structures, and active nuclei within them evolved from the epoch of reionization to the
present. The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems theme seeks to unravel the birth and early evolution of stars,
from infall onto dust-enshrouded protostars, to the genesis of planetary systems. Planetary Systems and the Origins of
Life theme seeks to determine the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems around nearby stars and of our
own, and investigate the potential for life in those systems. To enable these for science themes, JWST will be a large
(6.5m) cold (50K) telescope with four instruments, capable of imaging and spectroscopy from 0.6 to 29 microns wavelength.
The scientific requirements of the James Webb Space Telescope fall into four themes. The End of the Dark Ages: First Light and Reionization seeks to identify the first luminous sources to form and to determine the ionization history of the Universe. The Assembly of Galaxies seeks to determine how galaxies and the dark matter, gas, stars, metals, morphological structures, and active nuclei within them evolved from the epoch of reionization to the present. The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems seeks to unravel the birth and early evolution of stars, from infall onto dust-enshrouded protostars, to the genesis of planetary systems. Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life seeks to determine the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems including our own, and investigate the potential for life in those systems. These themes will guide the design and construction of the observatory.
Conference Committee Involvement (4)
Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2014: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave
22 June 2014 | Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave
1 July 2012 | Amsterdam, Netherlands
Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2010: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave
27 June 2010 | San Diego, California, United States
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