JWST Commissioning refers to the six-month period following the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) during which all its systems and instruments are carefully tested, aligned, and calibrated before beginning full scientific operations.
During commissioning, JWST’s primary mirror segments are precisely aligned to form a single, perfectly focused surface. Its instruments, including NIRCam, NIRSpec, and MIRI, are cooled to their operational temperatures and tested to ensure they can detect faint infrared signals accurately. The telescope’s sunshield and other mechanical systems are also checked to confirm proper deployment and functionality.
This phase is critical to ensure that JWST can achieve its unprecedented sensitivity and resolution for observing distant galaxies, exoplanets, and other cosmic phenomena. Commissioning transforms JWST from a complex spacecraft in space into a fully operational astronomical observatory, ready to deliver groundbreaking discoveries about the universe.