The most powerful telescope that humanity has ever developed carries four complex instruments on board that will allow us to observe the early age of galaxies and the origins of our own solar system.

Webb must not only be placed in orbit around the L2 point ; It must also operate “station maintenance” and “impulse management” maneuvers , essential for it to be able to preserve its orientation in space. According to NASA statements, the launch of the observatory was so successful that they believe it has fuel for “much more” than the expected cycle of ten years.

The 4 key instruments

MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument)

It is the mid-infrared light instrument. It will measure the mid-infrared wavelength range, allowing you to observe objects cooler and more distant (or older) than near-infrared. It has its own cryogenics system that keeps it even colder than the other instruments because it needs to operate at -210ºC.

NIRCAM (Near-Infrared Camera)

It is an infrared camera with spectral coverage that will go from the edge of the visible to the near infrared. Called ‘the eye in the sky’, it is the instrument that will see the most distant objects in the cosmos visible in this range.

NIRSPEC (Near-Infrared Spectrograph)

It’s the near infrared spectrograph. It operates in the near infrared and is capable of seeing a hundred objects or more at once. This instrument was built by the European Space Agency (ESA) and is the only instrument without a camera. Did you know that Webb’s Micro Shutter Array (MSA) is a grid of 248,000 tiny doors that can be opened and closed to transmit or block light? The goal is to capture spectra of 100 individual objects or points in space at the same time (multi-object spectroscopy). Only NIRSpec has it.

NIRISS/FGS (Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph/Fine Guidance Sensor)

It is the near-infrared imager and the orientation sensor (like a guide that helps point the telescope). FGS allows Webb to aim precisely so you can get high quality images. Both instruments, FGS/NIRISS, will be used to investigate first light detection, exoplanet detection and characterization, and exoplanet transit spectroscopy.

NIRSpec, NIRISS and NIRCam detectors are sensitive to near-infrared light (0.6 – 4.9 µm). MIRI detectors are sensitive to mid-infrared light (4.9 – 28.8 microns).

The original launch date for the James Webb was initially set for 2007 , but a revision to the project resulted in a drastic redesign of the spacecraft and the launch was pushed back to sometime between 2015 and 2018. June 2019, then May 2020, March 2021 and October 2021. Finally December 18, 2021 seemed to be the final date, but the unexpected release of a clamp while installing the JWST on the Ariane 5 produced vibrations not desired that required further testing and the date was pushed back to December 22, then December 24, and finally December 25, at which point the James Webb departed for the Lagrange point L2.