THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE A BRIEF INTRODUCTION
THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPEA BRIEF INTRODUCTION
JAMES WEBB
Webb was formerly known as
the “Next Generation Space
Telescope” (NGST); it was renamed in
Sept 2002 after a former NASA
administrator, James Webb.
WEBB IS AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
European Space Agency
+
WEBB IS AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
European Space Agency
+
Canadian Space Agency
+
WEBB IS AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
European Space Agency
+
Canadian Space Agency
+
Managing The Development Effort
Main Industrial Partner
Operates Webb After Launch
WEBB IS AN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
Infrared
THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
Infrared
6.5meter primary mirror
THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
Infrared
6.5meter primary mirror
Hubble’s primary mirror
THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE
Infrared
6.5meter primary mirror
2018launch date
Hubble’s primary mirror
HOW BIG IS WEBB?
HUBBLE
HOW BIG IS WEBB?
HUBBLE
TRACTOR-TRAILER
HOW BIG IS WEBB?
HUBBLE WEBB
TRACTOR-TRAILER
HOW BIG IS WEBB?
HUBBLE WEBB
BOEING 737 TRACTOR-TRAILER
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Folding, segmented primary mirror
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Folding, segmented primary mirror
Ultra-lightweight beryllium optics
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Folding, segmented primary mirror
Ultra-lightweight beryllium optics
Detection of extremely weak signals
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Folding, segmented primary mirror
Ultra-lightweight beryllium optics
Detection of extremely weak signals
Microshutters
INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Folding, segmented primary mirror
Ultra-lightweight beryllium optics
Detection of extremely weak signals
Microshutters
Cryocooler
FOUR MAIN SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS ON WEBB
Near InfraRed Camera(NIRCam)
1
Near InfraRed Camera(NIRCam)
Near InfraRed Spectrograph(NIRSpec)
1 2
FOUR MAIN SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS ON WEBB
Near InfraRed Camera(NIRCam)
Near InfraRed Spectrograph(NIRSpec)
Mid-InfraRed Instrument(MIRI)
1 2 3
FOUR MAIN SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS ON WEBB
Near InfraRed Camera(NIRCam)
Near InfraRed Spectrograph(NIRSpec)
Mid-InfraRed Instrument(MIRI)
1 2 3 4
Fine Guidance Sensor/Near InfraRed Imager
& Slitless Spectrograph(FGS-NIRISS)
FOUR MAIN SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS ON WEBB
INTEGRATED SCIENCE INSTRUMENT MODULE (ISM)
INTEGRATED SCIENCE INSTRUMENT MODULE (ISM)
The ISM containsthe four instruments
INTEGRATED SCIENCE INSTRUMENT MODULE (ISM)
The ISM containsthe four instruments
INFRARED RANGE
Webb's instruments will be designed to work primarily in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, with some capability in the visible range. It will be sensitive to light from 0.6 (orange)to 28 micrometers (µm) in wavelength.
INFRARED RANGE
Webb's instruments will be designed to work primarily in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, with some capability in the visible range. It will be sensitive to light from 0.6 (orange)to 28 micrometers (µm) in wavelength.
Gamma Rays X-Rays UV Rays Visible Light Infrared Microwave Radio waves
10-5 0.2 0.4 0.75 1,000Wavelength in microns (µm)
INFRARED RANGE
Webb's instruments will be designed to work primarily in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, with some capability in the visible range. It will be sensitive to light from 0.6 (orange)to 28 micrometers (µm) in wavelength.
Visible Light Near Infrared Mid Infrared Far Infrared Rays
0.75 1,0001.5 40.6Wavelength in microns (µm)
Gamma Rays X-Rays UV Rays Visible Light Infrared Microwave Radio waves
10-5 0.2 0.4 0.75 1,000Wavelength in microns (µm)
Gamma Rays X-Rays UV Rays Visible Light Infrared Microwave Radio waves
INFRARED RANGE
Webb's instruments will be designed to work primarily in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum, with some capability in the visible range. It will be sensitive to light from 0.6 (orange)to 28 micrometers (µm) in wavelength.
Visible Light Near Infrared Mid Infrared Far Infrared Rays
10-5 0.2 0.4 0.75 1,000
0.75 1,0001.5 40.6
0.6 µm 28 µm
Infrared Sensitivity ofWebb’s Instruments
Wavelength in microns (µm)
Wavelength in microns (µm)
INFRARED RANGE
0.75 1,0001.5 40.6
FGS/NIRISS(0.8 to 5.0 µm)
Infrared Sensitivity ofWebb’s Instruments
0.6 µm 28 µm
Visible Light Near Infrared Mid Infrared Far Infrared Rays
Wavelength in microns (µm)
INFRARED RANGE
0.75 1,0001.5 40.6
FGS/NIRISS(0.8 to 5.0 µm)
Infrared Sensitivity ofWebb’s Instruments
0.6 µm 28 µm
Visible Light Near Infrared Mid Infrared Far Infrared Rays
(0.6 to 5 µm)NIRSpec & NIRCam
Wavelength in microns (µm)
INFRARED RANGE
0.75 1,0001.5 40.6
FGS/NIRISS(0.8 to 5.0 µm)
(0.6 to 5 µm)NIRSpec & NIRCam
Infrared Sensitivity ofWebb’s Instruments
0.6 µm 28 µm
MIRI(5 to 28 µm)
Visible Light Near Infrared Mid Infrared Far Infrared Rays
Wavelength in microns (µm)
INFRARED RANGE
0.75 1,0001.5 40.6
FGS/NIRISS(0.8 to 5.0 µm)
(0.6 to 5 µm)NIRSpec & NIRCam
Infrared Sensitivity ofWebb’s Instruments
0.6 µm 28 µm
Near IR
Reveals:• cooler red stars
(dust is transparent)
MIRI(5 to 28 µm)
Visible Light Near Infrared Mid Infrared Far Infrared Rays
Wavelength in microns (µm)
INFRARED RANGE
0.75 1,0001.5 40.6
FGS/NIRISS(0.8 to 5.0 µm)
(0.6 to 5 µm)NIRSpec & NIRCam
Infrared Sensitivity ofWebb’s Instruments
0.6 µm 28 µm
Near IR
Mid IR
Reveals:• cooler red stars
(dust is transparent)
Reveals:• planets, comets, and asteroids• dust warmed by starlight• protoplanetary disks
MIRI(5 to 28 µm)
Visible Light Near Infrared Mid Infrared Far Infrared Rays
Wavelength in microns (µm)
1
FOUR MAIN SCIENCE THEMES
THE END OF THE DARK AGES:FIRST LIGHT AND REIONIZATION
1 2
FOUR MAIN SCIENCE THEMES
THE END OF THE DARK AGES:FIRST LIGHT AND REIONIZATION
THE ASSEMBLYOF GALAXIES
1 2 3
FOUR MAIN SCIENCE THEMES
THE END OF THE DARK AGES:FIRST LIGHT AND REIONIZATION
THE ASSEMBLYOF GALAXIES
THE BIRTH OF STARS ANDPROTOPLANETARY SYSTEMS
1 2 3 4
FOUR MAIN SCIENCE THEMES
THE END OF THE DARK AGES:FIRST LIGHT AND REIONIZATION
THE ASSEMBLYOF GALAXIES
THE BIRTH OF STARS ANDPROTOPLANETARY SYSTEMS
PLANETARY SYSTEMSAND THE ORIGINS OF LIFE
THE LAUNCH
THE LAUNCH
Arianespace's ELA-3 launch complex near Kourou, French Guiana
THE LAUNCH
Arianespace's ELA-3 launch complex near Kourou, French Guiana
THE LAUNCH
Arianespace's ELA-3 launch complex near Kourou, French Guiana
THE LAUNCH
Arianespace's ELA-3 launch complex near Kourou, French Guiana
THE LAUNCH
Arianespace's ELA-3 launch complex near Kourou, French Guiana
• Webb must be very cold
• Shielded from the heat of the Sun AND the Earth
• Solution: L2 (Lagrange point)
WEBB’S ORBIT
L2
150 million km 1.5 million km
• Webb must be very cold
• Shielded from the heat of the Sun AND the Earth
• Solution: L2 (Lagrange point)
WEBB’S ORBIT
L4
L2
L5
L1L3
150 million km 1.5 million kmTHE L2 LAGRANGE POINT
Lagrange Points provide a stable configuration in which three bodies can orbit each other yet stay in the same position relative to each other.
HOW FAR BACK IN TIME WILL WEBB SEE?
BIG BANG
0
AGE OF THE UNIVERSE (billions of years)
HOW FAR BACK IN TIME WILL WEBB SEE?
BIG BANG
0 .0004(~400,000 yrs)
COSMIC MICROWAVE
BACKGROUND
AGE OF THE UNIVERSE (billions of years)
HOW FAR BACK IN TIME WILL WEBB SEE?
BIG BANG
0 .0004(~400,000 yrs)
COSMIC MICROWAVE
BACKGROUND
.3
FIRSTSTARS
AGE OF THE UNIVERSE (billions of years)
DA
RK
AG
ES
HOW FAR BACK IN TIME WILL WEBB SEE?
BIG BANG
0 .0004(~400,000 yrs)
AGE OF THE UNIVERSE (billions of years)
COSMIC MICROWAVE
BACKGROUND
.3 1
FIRSTGALAXIES
FIRSTSTARS
DA
RK
AG
ES
HOW FAR BACK IN TIME WILL WEBB SEE?
BIG BANG
0 .0004(~400,000 yrs)
AGE OF THE UNIVERSE (billions of years)
COSMIC MICROWAVE
BACKGROUND
.3 1
FIRSTGALAXIES
FIRSTSTARS
MODERN UNIVERSE
13.7
DA
RK
AG
ES
HOW FAR BACK IN TIME WILL WEBB SEE?
BIG BANG
0 .0004(~400,000 yrs)
AGE OF THE UNIVERSE (billions of years)
COSMIC MICROWAVE
BACKGROUND
.3 1
FIRSTGALAXIES
FIRSTSTARS
13.7
HST GOODS /CHANDRA DEPP FIELD
MODERN UNIVERSE
DA
RK
AG
ES
HOW FAR BACK IN TIME WILL WEBB SEE?
BIG BANG
0 .0004(~400,000 yrs)
AGE OF THE UNIVERSE (billions of years)
COSMIC MICROWAVE
BACKGROUND
.3 1
FIRSTGALAXIES
FIRSTSTARS
13.7
HST GOODS /CHANDRA DEPP FIELD
JWST(13.4 billion years ago)
MODERN UNIVERSE
DA
RK
AG
ES
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