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JWST

active
Science ExplorationcislunarCOSPAR 2021-130ALaunched 12/25/2021
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
JWST Mission
Launch Vehicle
Ariane 5ECA+
Launch Date
12/25/2021
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
cislunar
Altitude
524,157.5 km
Inclination
4.17 deg
Dry Mass
5,861 kg
Total Mass
6,161 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Science Exploration
Payload Category
AST
Payload Class
C
Organizations
Operator
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Manufacturer
Northrop Grumman
Registry
COSPAR ID
2021-130A
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/1041
Track
Mentions
115
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

JWST's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) experienced increased friction in a specific mode, but controllers resolved this issue with a different movement pattern.

CapabilityValue 3.4Jan 10, 2023Astronomers celebrate performance of JWST

The Habitable Worlds Observatory will use segmented mirror technology from JWST and will likely feature a design change to address micrometeoroid impacts.

Capability
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Plan
Value 3.5
Jan 10, 2023
Astronomers celebrate performance of JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to exceed expectations six months after the release of its first science images.

CapabilityGeneralValue 2.0Jan 10, 2023Astronomers celebrate performance of JWST

NASA plans to fold lessons learned from JWST's development into future missions, including the Habitable Worlds Observatory.

PlanGeneralValue 3.0Jan 10, 2023Astronomers celebrate performance of JWST

Four astronomers who led the effort to rename JWST—Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, Lucianne Walkowicz, Sarah Tuttle, and Brian Nord—criticized the report on 2022-11-18 as focused too narrowly on specific cases and questioned whether it addressed institutional responsibility.

GeneralLegalGovernanceValue 2.0Nov 21, 2022NASA confirms decision to keep JWST name after historical report

Artemis 1 mission demands may reduce DSN availability for JWST, potentially producing a handful of days with less than four hours of contact.

GeneralCapabilityValue 3.0Sep 22, 2022NASA studying issue with JWST instrument

JWST released an infrared image of Neptune, its rings, and moons that is the most detailed look at Neptune since Voyager 2's 1989 flyby.

GeneralCapabilityValue 3.0Sep 22, 2022NASA studying issue with JWST instrument

The JWST observations released 2022-07-12 include a spectrum of the exoplanet WASP-96 b that revealed water vapor in its atmosphere.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.5Jul 12, 2022First JWST images excite and relieve astronomers

NASA plans to release the call for proposals for JWST Cycle 2 late 2022.

PlanValue 3.0Jul 12, 2022First JWST images excite and relieve astronomers

The JWST observations released 2022-07-12 include images of Stephan’s Quintet.

GeneralCapabilityValue 2.0Jul 12, 2022First JWST images excite and relieve astronomers

The JWST observations released 2022-07-12 include images of the Carina Nebula.

GeneralValue 1.8Jul 12, 2022First JWST images excite and relieve astronomers

NASA and its European and Canadian partners on JWST planned to publish a broader set of early release observations on 2022-07-12.

PlanValue 3.0Jul 11, 2022NASA releases first color image from James Webb Space Telescope

Approximately 1,000 activities were planned for all of JWST commissioning and about 200 activities remained to complete.

PlanValue 3.0May 9, 2022JWST entering “home stretch” of commissioning

JWST launched on 2021-12-25 on an Ariane 5 rocket.

PlanValue 4.0Jan 8, 2022NASA completes major JWST deployments

NASA scheduled deployment of the JWST secondary mirror, mounted on the end of a tripod, for the morning of 2022-01-05.

PlanValue 4.0Jan 4, 2022JWST sunshield fully deployed

Work to test the spacecraft and confirm there was no damage pushed the JWST launch from 2021-12-18 to 2021-12-22.

PlanValue 4.0Dec 15, 2021Communications problem delays JWST launch

NASA, working in conjunction with the European Space Agency and Arianespace, moved JWST’s launch on an Ariane 5 from 2021-12-18 to no earlier than 2021-12-22 to perform additional testing of the spacecraft after the incident.

PlanGeneralValue 4.5Nov 22, 2021JWST launch slips after payload processing incident

An Ariane 5 launched two communications satellites on 2021-07-30, marking one of the two precursor launches before the JWST launch.

PlanGeneralValue 3.6Sep 9, 2021JWST gets mid-December launch date

NASA and ESA have a formal launch readiness date of 2021-10-31 for JWST but the launch schedule suggests JWST will not launch earlier than the second half of November.

PlanGeneralValue 4.0Jul 6, 2021JWST passes launch review

The 2021-07-27 Ariane 5 launch of two commercial satellites is the first of two Ariane 5 missions planned before the JWST launch.

PlanValue 3.5Jul 6, 2021JWST passes launch review