JWST Current Status

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) moved on July 30, 2003 from Phase A (preliminary analysis, technical design studies) to Phase B (definition) in NASA speak. In Phase B, the mission's preliminary design will be developed. Some long lead items like the mirror segments and the science instruments are being manufactured. Most of the sub-elements of the Webb, like the Integrated Science Instruments Module, the Science Instruments, and the main telescope optics have already passed their Preliminary Design Reviews. The NIRCam and MIRI have passed their Critical Design Review. The formal transition to Phase C/D (implementation) will occur after the project has passed the Observatory PDR (technical) and Non Advocate Review (NAR, budgets & plans) which are scheduled for March-April 2008. A related review, the Non-Advocate Review (NAR) will be held shortly thereafter. In preparation for these reviews, the Project successfully held a review of enabling technologies in January 2007.

The Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) is being built by a team led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, with Lead Investigator Dr. Marcia Rieke. The industrial partner is Lockheed-Martin.

The Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) is being built by the European Space Agency with Lead Investigator Dr. Peter Jackobsen.

The Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) is a 50/50 collaboration between NASA and individual European nation states, managed by ESA. The US portion of the science team constructing MIRI is led by Dr. George Rieke, University of Arizona, the European team is led by Gillian Wright, UKATC. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is the US lead implementing center for MIRI.

The JWST Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) and Tunable Filter Imager (TFI) are being developed under the management of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The Canadian prime contractor is COM DEV (Ottawa & Cambridge). They work with the CSA and its science advisors led by the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics (Project Scientist John Hutchings) and the Univ. Montreal (TFI PI Ren’e Doyon).

The four instruments and the FGS use advanced detector technologies specifically developed for JWST. Teledyn (formerly Rockwell Scientific) is producing near-infrared HgCdTe detectors for NIRCam and the FGS. Raytheon is developing mid-infrared Si:As detectors for MIRI under the oversight of the Ames Research Center.

The members of the JWST Science Working Group (SWG) are listed at the SWG pages. The SWG provides guidance on the science goals and capabilities of JWST.