Uncrewed spacecraftActive
James Webb Space Telescope observatory
Infrared space observatory
Vehicle and mission dossier
James Webb Space Telescope
Observe first light and early galaxies, trace galaxy and star formation, study planets and the origins of life, and conduct infrared investigations across the solar system and universe. After a month-long sequence of more than 300 deployment steps, Webb aligned eighteen mirror segments and began science in 2022. It has characterized exoplanet atmospheres, resolved star and planet formation, examined the earliest known galaxies, measured nearby solar-system bodies, and supports thousands of observing programs.
Flight profile
- Launch
- December 25, 2021
Vehicle record
- Mission milestone
- Entered Sun-Earth L2 halo orbit January 24, 2022; first science images released July 12, 2022
- Status
- Active science mission at Sun-Earth L2
- Vehicle
- James Webb Space Telescope observatory
- Launch vehicle
- Ariane 5 ECA
- Mass
- about 13,700 pounds (6,200 kilograms)
- Operator
- NASA, European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, and Space Telescope Science Institute
- Destination
- Sun-Earth L2 halo orbit
- Payload
- 6.5-meter segmented primary mirror, NIRCam, NIRSpec, MIRI, and Fine Guidance Sensor/NIRISS behind a five-layer deployable sunshield
- Program
- Great Observatories
Flight objectives
- Primary objectiveObserve first light and early galaxies, trace galaxy and star formation, study planets and the origins of life, and conduct infrared investigations across the solar system and universe.
- Survey capabilityUse 6.5-meter segmented primary mirror, nircam, nirspec, miri, and fine guidance sensor/niriss behind a five-layer deployable sunshield from Sun-Earth L2 halo orbit.
- Mission operationsEntered Sun-Earth L2 halo orbit January 24, 2022; first science images released July 12, 2022
- Archive legacyAfter a month-long sequence of more than 300 deployment steps, Webb aligned eighteen mirror segments and began science in 2022. It has characterized exoplanet atmospheres, resolved star and planet formation, examined the earliest known galaxies, measured nearby solar-system bodies, and supports thousands of observing programs.
Flight timeline
- December 25, 2021Launch milestoneJames Webb Space Telescope begins or is scheduled to begin its mission aboard Ariane 5 ECA.
- Entered Sun-Earth L2 halo orbit January 24, 2022; first science images released July 12, 2022Mission milestonesJames Webb Space Telescope observatory reaches its documented operational phase.
- Science programWebb unfolds the largest space telescope ever launched and opens a new infrared view of cosmic historyAfter a month-long sequence of more than 300 deployment steps, Webb aligned eighteen mirror segments and began science in 2022. It has characterized exoplanet atmospheres, resolved star and planet formation, examined the earliest known galaxies, measured nearby solar-system bodies, and supports thousands of observing programs.
- Current recordActive science mission at Sun-Earth L2James Webb Space Telescope's current operations and survey archive are recorded with mission-specific sources.