James Webb Space Telescope: a large deployable cryogenic telescope in space

Abstract

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large space based astronomical telescope that will operate at cryogenic temperatures in an Earth-Sun L2 Orbit. The architecture has the telescope exposed to space, with a large sun shield providing thermal isolation and protection from direct illumination from the sun. The instruments will have the capability to observe over a spectral range from 0.6 μm to 28 μm wavelengths. The following paper will present an overview of the architecture and describe some of the features of the optical design for the JWST environment.