Timeline of the James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope is an international 21st-century space observatory scheduled to be launched on December 22, 2021.[1] It is intended to be the premier observatory of the 2020s, combining the largest mirror yet on a near-infrared space telescope with a suite of technologically advanced instruments from around the world.[2]

The first six primary mirror segments being prepared for final cryogenic acceptance testing, 2011
The 18 main mirror segments for JWST in special shipping cans, 2012
Backplane being transported to California, 2013
Vacuum Chamber A prepared for JWST, 2014
Main mirror assembled, May 2016

The telescope is designed to last at least five and a half years (six months calibration plus five years science operations), but with a goal of ten years.[3] The limiting factor is expected to be fuel to maintain its halo orbit, of which there is enough for at least ten years.[3]

JWST is expected to cost at least $8.8 billion, including design, construction, and five years of operations (does not include extended mission funding) or International contributions.[4][5]

Timeline of selected events
  • 1996: Next Generation Space Telescope initiated.[6]
  • 2000: NEXUS cancelled (JWST technology demo).[7][8]
  • September 2002: NGST named James Webb Space Telescope.[6][2]
  • September 11, 2003: $824.8 million prime contract for JWST awarded to TRW.[9]
  • January 2007: 9/10 technology development items pass non-advocate review.[10]
  • April 2010: technical part of Mission Critical Design Review (MCDR) passes.[11]
  • July 2011: James Webb project threatened with cancellation.[12][13][14][15]
  • November 2011: JWST survives cancellation attempt.[16]
  • 2012: MIRI instrument hand-off.[17]
  • March 2013: FGS/NIRISS installed in ISIM.[18]
  • July 4, 2013: MIRI installed in ISIM.[19]
  • March 2014: NIRCam installed in ISIM[20]
  • March 24–25, 2014: NIRSpec integrated into ISIM.[21]
  • June 2014: first combined test of all four instruments including cryogenic testing in the Goddard Space Environment Simulator.[22]
  • 2014: peak U.S. funding hit with $650 million this year.[4]
  • February 2015: hexagonal segments of the primary mirror completed.[23]
  • December 2015: contract for JWST's launcher signed with a launch date of October 2018.[24]
  • March 2016: cryogenic testing of instruments and mirrors completed.[25]
  • March 3, 2016: secondary mirror installed on OTE.[26]
  • March 2016: Aft Optics Subsystem installed on OTE.[27]
  • November 2016: JWST construction completed (still needed testing, etc.)[28]
  • January 2017: JWST is fine after experiencing an anomaly during vibration testing in Dec 2016.[29]
  • March 27, 2018: JWST launch delayed to at least May 2020 as issues with the spacecraft element require further testing.[30]
  • June 27, 2018: JWST launch postponed to March 30, 2021 based on recommendations by an Independent Review Board.[31]
  • July 16, 2020: JWST launch postponed to October 31, 2021 due to impacts from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as technical challenges.[32]
  • June 1, 2021: JWST launch postponed to no earlier than November 2021 due to concerns regarding the readiness of the Ariane 5 launch vehicle and launch site.[33]
  • September 8, 2021: JWST launch postponed to December 18, 2021.[34]
  • November 22, 2021: JWST launch delayed to no earlier than December 22, 2021, to allow additional testing after experiencing vibrations due to an unplanned clamp release.[35]

Pre-launch plans
  • 2016: OTE tests complete.
  • 2017: OTIS tests complete.
  • 2017: Spacecraft (including sunshield) tests complete.
  • 2018: Observatory I&T complete.
  • October 2018: planned launch date as of 2016.[2]
  • Early 2019: planned launch date as of October 2017.[36]
  • May 2020 or later: planned launch date as of March 2018.[37]
  • March 30, 2021: planned launch date as of June 2018.[31]
  • October 31, 2021: planned launch date as of July 2020.[32]
  • November 2021 or later: planned launch date as of June 2021.[33]
  • December 22, 2021: planned launch date as of November 2021.[34]
  • December 24, 2021: planned launch date after delay due to communication issues between the observatory and the Launch Vehicle.

After-launch plans
  • After launch it is unfolded in the following planned order.[38]
    • 1) spacecraft appendages (solar arrays, high gain antenna)
    • 2) sunshield
    • 3) extend tower
    • 4) secondary mirror
    • 5) primary mirror
  • For 30 days after launch it takes a million mile trip to L2 halo orbit[39]
  • For six months JWST prepares for full-time science operation. This includes letting everything cool down, calibrating the mirrors and instruments, etc.[40]
  • Five year science mission starts after six months (planned)[40] (so five and a half years minimum planned)
  • 10 years of operation goal, and enough fuel to maintain halo orbit for at least ten years is included.[3]

After-launch deployment
JWST post-launch deployment timeline[41]

Nearly a month after launch, a trajectory correction will be initiated to place the James Webb Space Telescope into a halo orbit at L2.[42]

References
  1. "NASA Provides Update on Webb Telescope Launch – James Webb Space Telescope". blogs.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  2. "The James Webb Space Telescope". Explore James Webb Space Telescope. NASA. Archived from the original on 1 June 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
  3. "The James Webb Space Telescope". www.asu.edu.
  4. "Manufacturing Issues Plague James Webb Space Telescope". SpaceNews. November 15, 2014.
  5. Witze, Alexandra (2018-03-27). "NASA reveals major delay for $8-billion Hubble successor". Bibcode:2018Natur.556...11W. doi:10.1038/d41586-018-03863-5. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  6. "About James Webb". NASA. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  7. "Nexus Space Telescope". MIT.
  8. "Multidisciplinary Analysis of the NEXUS Precursor Space Telescope" (PDF).
  9. "TRW Selected as JWST Prime Contractor". STCI. 11 September 2003. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  10. "JWST Passes NTAR". STScI. Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  11. "NASA's Webb Telescope Passes Key Mission Design Review Milestone". NASA. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  12. McKie, Robin (9 July 2011). "Nasa fights to save the James Webb space telescope from the axe". The Guardian. London.
  13. "Appropriations Committee Releases the Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations". US House of representatives Committee on Appropriations. 6 July 2011.
  14. "US lawmakers vote to kill Hubble successor". SpaceDaily. 7 July 2011.
  15. "Proposed NASA Budget Bill Would Cancel Major Space Telescope". Space.com. 6 July 2011.
  16. "NASA budget plan saves telescope, cuts space taxis". Reuters. 16 November 2011.
  17. "Europe delivers first JWST instrument". sci.esa.int. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  18. GMS, NASA's (March 11, 2013). "GMS: FGS/NIRISS Installation into the ISIM Structure". svs.gsfc.nasa.gov.
  19. "ESA Science & Technology - MIRI installed in ISIM". sci.esa.int.
  20. "Lockheed Martin Readies One of the Most Sensitive IR Instruments Ever Made for NASA Telescope". Media - Lockheed Martin.
  21. "NIRSpec is integrated into ISIM". sci.esa.int. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  22. "ESA Science & Technology - #07: Summer 2014 - first combined test of all four instruments". sci.esa.int.
  23. "NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Primary Mirror Fully Assembled". NASA.gov. 3 Feb 2016. Retrieved 4 Feb 2016.
  24. "ESA Science & Technology - ESA confirms James Webb telescope Ariane launch". sci.esa.int.
  25. Jenner, Lynn (2016-03-21). "NASA Marks Major Milestones for the James Webb Space Telescope". NASA. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  26. Jenner, Lynn (2016-03-07). "NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Secondary Mirror Installed". NASA. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  27. "GMS: JWST Aft-Optics System (AOS) Installed at GSFC". Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  28. "Nasa begins testing enormous space telescope made of gold mirrors". the Guardian. November 4, 2016.
  29. "No damage to JWST after vibration test anomaly". SpaceNews.com. 2016-12-23. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  30. "James Webb Space Telescope, NASA's next Hubble, delayed again". CNET. 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  31. "Jim Bridenstine on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  32. "NASA Announces New James Webb Space Telescope Target Launch Date". nasa.gov. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  33. Berger, Eric (1 June 2021). "Webb telescope launch date slips again". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  34. "About Webb Launch - NASA". ESA. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  35. "NASA Provides Update on Webb Telescope Launch – James Webb Space Telescope". blogs.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
  36. "JWST launch slips to early 2019 – Spaceflight Now". spaceflightnow.com. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
  37. "NASA Delays Launch of James Webb Space Telescope Until 2020". Space.com. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  38. "Deployment". wayback.archive-it.org.
  39. "The Launch - Webb/NASA". jwst.nasa.gov.
  40. "Orbit - Webb/NASA". jwst.nasa.gov.
  41. "FAQ Full General Public Webb Telescope/NASA". jwst.nasa.gov.
  42. "James Webb Space Telescope – The First 30 Days After Launch". News Ledge. 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2017-05-30.
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