JWST Documentary

Into the Unknown – the Story of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope

Meet the JWST Engineers at Northrop Grumman The Northrop Grumman engineers behind the James Web Space Telescope have no easy task. It has taken one hundred million hours of people’s lives to build JWST, the largest, most complex and powerful space telescope ever built. Hear from the engineers who take pride in what they’re [...]<p><a class="btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link" href="https://www.northropgrumman.com/space/james-webb-space-telescope/">Read More...</a></p>

James Webb Space Telescope

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO SOLVE THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE.

Until it's not.

Northrop Grumman leads the industry team for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, the largest, most complex and powerful space telescope ever built.
The Webb Telescope will fundamentally alter our understanding of the universe. Northrop Grumman is focused on ensuring that this once unthinkable achievement becomes a reality. Identified as a top priority for astronomy and astrophysics by the National Research Council, the Webb Telescope is a key program for NASA and the scientific community and is central to the nation's ground- and space-based astrophysics program.
.

Northrop Grumman NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope

Watch videos about JWST

How JWST will Define Possible

NASA's Webb Telescope will use its superb angular resolution and near-infrared instruments to discover and study planetary systems similar to our own, analyze the molecular composition of extrasolar planets’ atmospheres and directly image Jupiter-size planets orbiting nearby stars.

The JWST will make observations once thought to be impossible; multiple new technologies had to be invented simply to build it. The groundbreaking mirror and powerful instruments will discover and study distant planetary systems, analyzing the molecular composition of extrasolar planets' atmospheres and directly imaging Jupiter-size planets orbiting nearby stars.

JWST will also look deep into the past, to a time when the earliest stars and galaxies were born. By extending our knowledge of the cosmos, the JWST will help us answer the compelling questions, "How did we get here?" and "Are we alone?"

ms-duotones-slider-bg-slide2

The Search for Earth 2.0

Finding extraterrestrial life is not an easy task, but researchers are well-equipped to pursue.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will be another powerful tool in the search for life.
Read more »

Infographic showing artist rendering of James Webb Space Telescope and its spin off technologies

Spin off technology James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) - Northrop Grumman

Artist rendering of James Webb Space Telescope

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Namesake - Northrop Grumman

Advocate of Space Exploration, James Webb Would be Proud of the Telescope in His Name
Read more >

Scientist in lab coat looking up at the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope:
Letting Astronomers Peer into the Early Universe
Read more >

The James Webb Space Telescope Team

NASA leads an international partnership that includes the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is managing the Webb Telescope project, and the Space Telescope Science Institute is responsible for science and mission operations, as well as ground station development.

As the prime contractor to develop the James Webb Space Telescope, Northrop Grumman is designing and building the deployable sunshield, providing the spacecraft and integrating the total system. The observatory subsystems are developed by a Northrop Grumman-led team with vast experience in developing space-based observatories.

Ball Aerospace: Optical design, mirrors, wavefront sensing, and control design and algorithms

Harris Corporation: Optical telescope integration and testing

University of Arizona: Near-Infrared Camera

European Space Agency (ESA): Near-Infrared Spectrograph

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), ESA: Mid-Infrared Instrument

Canadian Space Agency (CSA): Fine Guidance Sensor with Tunable Filter Module