Independent Research Project #1

NATS1585, Fall 2022

How WEBB space telescope works?”

Table of Contents
Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 2
Discoveries/Observation .................................................................................................................... 2
What we know/basic facts .................................................................................................................. 3
What we don’t know/Open questions ................................................................................................ 4
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Bibliography ....................................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction

We will be able to rewrite cosmic history with the Webb Space Telescope. Webb's journey into space

is driven by the spirit of innovation and a combination of diverse research fields. As part of the James

Webb Space Telescope initiative, we will be able to peer back into some of the most primitive

moments of the universe. These observations provide insights into the formation of prehistoric stars

and planetary systems, such as the solar system we inhabit today. [1] In the last few decades,

astronomers have asked a number of fundamental inquiries about the universe. The James Webb

Space Telescope (JWST) appears to be able to find answers to a great deal of these questions.

According to NASA, the JWST has produced an image of the distant universe that is the most precise

and detailed image ever taken in the infrared. [2] Thanks to its unprecedented sensitivity to infrared

light, JWST will enable astronomers to compare the faintest, most ancient galaxies to today's grand

spiral galaxies and an elliptical galaxy. JWST is expected to provide scientists with valuable

information regarding the origin of stars and protoplanetary systems. By understanding how galaxies

are assembled over billions of years, we will be able to understand how they form. This even

anticipates that JWST will be used to investigate the origins of life, the composition of planets, and

the solar system itself.

Discoveries/Observation/Background History
JWST is an advanced infrared telescope that will enable us to observe stars and galaxies that formed

early in the history of the universe. The images can be taken 13.5 billion years ago when it emerged

from darkness. [3] There has been an expansion of our patch of the universe for 13.7 billion years

since the Big Bang. The universe has been revealed to be large, expanding, and composed. Humans,

planets, galaxies, and celestial bodies were created when part of the expansion ceased. As a result of

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the COBE mission (Cosmic Background Explorer), [3] remnant heat radiation from the Big Bang

was measured. As predicted, its color (spectrum) matched the observed variation in density from

primordial times, revealing the causes of our existence. As the successor of both the Hubble and

Spitzer Space Telescopes, the JWST will perform scientific research both in space and on earth.

JWST will take over from Hubble Space Telescope to extend the knowledge of science even further

and more closely to the Big Bang. Using its infrared capabilities, it may be able to identify the

atmospheric composition of planets around celestial bodies based on the properties of their dust

clouds. It is the purpose of this essay to provide an overview of the history of the James Webb Space

Telescope (JWST) and its operation.

What we know/basic facts about the topic

design. A near-IR camera, a multi-object near-IR spectrograph, and a tunable filter imager covering

broad wavelengths will be included in the observatory. [4] There will be a variety of wavelengths

available for observation, ranging from 0.6 meters to 27 meters. Its multi-segmented arrangement

features an aperture of 6.6 meters. [3] The cryogenic temperatures (about 40 Kelvin) will be

maintained by a passive cooling system in an orbit about the Earth-Sun's second Lagrange point (L2)

by a passive cooling system. [3] Sunshields prevent direct sunlight and ensure passive cooling by

providing thermal isolation. Ariane 5's fairing must accommodate the telescope and spacecraft

systems due to their size during launch and after launch. It is necessary to perform routine wave front

sensing and control measurements in order to phase the segmented primary mirror and align the

telescope. There are four categories of science goals for the JWST. Light and Reionization: End of

the Dark Ages assesses the origins of light and the ionization of the early universe. We examine

galaxies, gas, stars, metals, morphology, and active nuclei since reionization under the Assembly of

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Galaxies theme. The Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems theme explores the evolution of stars

and protoplanetary systems starting with dust-enshrouded protostars. Our Origins of Life theme

examines how planetary systems, including our own, might generate life. [4]

What we don’t know/Open questions

the I&T phase of JWST development, 24 laboratories across the globe use XML databases. Data is

exported and imported with database tools, and data is entered into the database certification process.

JWST has faced the challenge of allowing upgrades, additions, and changes without negatively

impacting the whole ground system. Using XML to manage data across multiple organizations at the

same time can be difficult.

Many NASA projects have taken advantage of JWST's commercial and open-source software.

Because of this, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) systems are typically used for ground systems on

spacecraft, which limits their customization potential. Based on the review of database requirements

and available COTS software, it is discovered that only extremely expensive COTS software meets

90% of database requirements. Although COTS is initially costly, the cost of developing and

maintaining custom code will still surpass the licensing fees. [5]

Conclusion
A detailed, precise infrared image of the distant universe was captured by the James Webb Space

Telescope. Using XML to manage data across multiple organizations at the same time can be

difficult. Several more questions may be answered by its observations. When managing data across

multiple organizations, the James Webb Space Telescope can be costly and difficult.

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Bibliography
[1] Marcucci, E., Dey, A., Erickson, K., Sooy, P., Britt, C., Perez, Y., ... & Smith, D. (2021,
December). Engaging the Public in the James Webb Space Telescope. In AGU Fall Meeting
Abstracts (Vol. 2021, pp. ED21A-04).
[2] Mather, J. (2003). James Webb Space Telescope. In Space 2004 Conference and Exhibit (p.
5985).
[3] Lightsey, P. A., Atkinson, C. B., Clampin, M. C., & Feinberg, L. D. (2012). James Webb Space
Telescope: large deployable cryogenic telescope in space. Optical Engineering, 51(1), 011003.
[4] Gardner, J. P., Mather, J. C., Clampin, M., Doyon, R., Flanagan, K. A., Franx, M., ... &
Windhorst, R. (2009). The James webb space telescope. In Astrophysics in the Next Decade (pp.
1-29). Springer, Dordrecht.
[5] Detter, R., Mooney, M., & Fatig, C. C. (2004, March). XML-James
Webb space telescope database issues, lessons, and status. In 2004
IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings (IEEE Cat. No.
04TH8720) (Vol. 5, pp. 3306-3312). IEEE.