Due for launch in 2013, JWST, which is a mission of joint cooperation between NASA, ESA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), is optimised to operate over a wide range of wavelengths and is considered to be the scientific successor to the Hubble Space Telescope.
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MIRI instrument verification model
Commenting on the agreement, Professor Keith Mason, Chief Executive of the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) said, ”By bringing nations together in missions such as JWST we can ensure that the best technological and scientific expertise are utilised. This can only result in greater scientific returns which will continue to push back the boundaries.”
At the heart of the JWST observatory is a large telescope whose primary mirror measures 6.5 metres in diameter (compared to 2.4 metres for Hubble), providing a relatively large field of view.
JWST will be operated well outside the Earth’s atmosphere at a point in deep space called ‘second Lagrangian point’ or ‘L2’, located at 1.5 million kilometres in the direction opposite to the sun. From this location, this powerful space observatory promises to revolutionise our view of the cosmos yet again - just as Hubble did.
A set of four sophisticated instruments (including a fine guidance sensor for precision pointing) will combine superb imaging capability at visible and infrared wavelengths, together with various spectroscopic modes to learn about the chemistry and evolution of the objects populating our Universe.
One of these sophisticated instruments, the Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI), is being developed by an international team led by Dr Gillian Wright MBE from STFC’s UK Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), Edinburgh and Professor George Reike of the University of Arizona. The team building the MIRI instrument also includes STFC’s Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Astrium (UK), University of Leicester and University of Cardiff.
MIRI presents great challenges but fantastic technological and scientific opportunities
Dr Wright
Dr Wright, who is European Principal Investigator for MIRI said, “MIRI presents great challenges but fantastic technological and scientific opportunities. The sensitive spectroscopy onboard will enable us to study the properties of materials forming around new born stars in unprecedented detail, and our coronagraphs will allow us to image directly massive planets orbiting other stars.”
According to the agreement, which was signed by ESA’s Director General Jean-Jacques Dordain and NASA’s Administrator Michael Griffin, NASA is responsible for the overall management and operations of the JWST mission, builds the spacecraft, the telescope, and the platform that will host the instruments. ESA will provide the launch with an Ariane 5 ECA rocket.
NASA will also provide one major instrument, the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), through the University of Arizona. ESA will provide the Near-Infrared spectrograph (NIRSpec) operating over similar wavelengths, with the detectors and the slit selector device provided by NASA. A number of UK industrial companies and university departments have contracts from ESA to build components of NIRSpec.
The third instrument, MIRI, as detailed above – is being built through a consortium of nationally funded European institutions in the UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark and Spain (responsible for the MIRI optical assembly) and NASA, with coordination through ESA. The fourth instrument on board, the Fine Guidance Sensor/Tuneable Filter Imager (FGS/TFI), will be provided by the CSA.
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The JWST team
Photo Opportunity
Following on from the JWST workshop held in Dublin last week the full scale model (80x40x40 ft) of the James Webb Telescope is currently in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainhim where it will remain until 22nd June before moving to other Dublin locations. See the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (link opens in a new window) website and for further details contact:
Dympna O’Callaghan
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Tel: 00 353 86 2371508
Notes to editors
Contacts
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Gill Ormrod – Science and Technology Facilities Council Press Office
Tel: + 44 (0)1793 442012
Mobile: + 44 (0)781 8013509
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Franco Bonacina – ESA Press relations
Tel: + 33 (0)15369 7155
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Michael Braukus - Public Affairs Officer, NASA Headquarters
Tel: 00 1 202 358 1979
Mobile: 001 202 669 1886
UK Science contacts
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Dr Gillian Wright – European Consortium Principal Investigator – MIRI
Tel: + 44 (0)131 6688248
Mobile: Tel: + 44 (0)791 9398611
Images of the full scale model and the JWST team and the MIRI verification model are available from Gill Ormrod in the STFC press office – contact details above.
Images and captions
Further Images, animations and further information
The James Webb Space Telescope was formerly known as the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST). NASA and ESA, joined by CSA, have collaborated on JWST since 1997.
James Webb (1902-1992) was NASA’s second chief administrator. He was instrumental in the Apollo landing. It is the first time that a mission has been named after someone other than a scientist.
