History of James Webb Space Telescope in Timeline

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the largest space telescope, specializing in infrared astronomy. Its high-resolution and sensitivity instruments enable observation of extremely distant and faint objects beyond Hubble's capabilities. JWST facilitates research in various areas of astronomy and cosmology, including observing the first stars and galaxy formation. It is also used for detailed study of exoplanet atmospheres, particularly those of potentially habitable planets.

1961: James E. Webb Becomes NASA Administrator

In 1961, James E. Webb became the administrator of NASA. Webb served as administrator during the Mercury, Gemini, and much of the Apollo programs, from 1961-1968.

1968: James E. Webb Ends Term as NASA Administrator

In 1968, James E. Webb ended his term as the administrator of NASA. Webb served as administrator during the Mercury, Gemini, and much of the Apollo programs, from 1961-1968.

1996: NASA, ESA, and CSA Collaborate on Telescope

In 1996, NASA, ESA, and CSA began collaborating on the James Webb Space Telescope.

2001: Sean O'Keefe Becomes NASA Administrator

In 2001, Sean O'Keefe became the NASA Administrator. O'keefe served as NASA administrator from 2001-2004.

2002: Telescope Named After James E. Webb

In 2002, NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe decided to name the telescope after James E. Webb, the administrator of NASA from 1961 to 1968.

2003: ESA Approval for Participation

In 2003, ESA's participation in the construction and launch of the James Webb Space Telescope was approved by its members.

2003: Space Telescope Science Institute Selected as Science and Operations Center

In 2003, the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland, was selected as the Science and Operations Center (S&OC) for the James Webb Space Telescope, with an initial budget to support operations through the first year after launch.

2004: Sean O'Keefe Ends Term as NASA Administrator

In 2004, Sean O'Keefe ended his term as NASA Administrator. O'keefe served as NASA administrator from 2001-2004.

2007: ESA and NASA Sign Agreement

In 2007, an agreement was signed between ESA and NASA for the James Webb Space Telescope project, outlining ESA's contributions in exchange for partnership, representation, and access to the observatory.

2010: Concerns over Webb's Budget

In 2010, concerns were raised about the growing costs and schedule delays for the Webb telescope, with a Nature article describing it as "the telescope that ate astronomy". NASA continued to defend the budget and timeline of the program to Congress.

July 2011: House Committee Moves to Cancel Webb Project

In July 2011, the United States House of Representatives' appropriations committee moved to cancel the James Webb project by proposing an FY2012 budget that removed US$1.9 billion from NASA's overall budget. The committee charged that the project was "billions of dollars over budget and plagued by poor management".

November 2011: Congress Reverses Cancellation Plans

In November 2011, Congress reversed plans to cancel the Webb project and instead capped additional funding to complete the project at US$8 billion.

2015: Concerns Raised About Webb's Role in Lavender Scare

In 2015, concerns were raised regarding James E. Webb's possible role in the lavender scare, the mid-20th-century persecution by the U.S. government targeting homosexuals in federal employment.

2015: Discovery of KIC 8462852

In 2015, the star KIC 8462852, showing some abnormal light-curve properties, was discovered and Webb was considered as a potential telescope for gathering information about its dimming.

November 2017: Director's Discretionary Early Release Science Programs Selected

In November 2017, the Space Telescope Science Institute announced the selection of 13 Director's Discretionary Early Release Science (DD-ERS) programs, to be obtained during the first five months of Webb science operations after the end of the commissioning period.

March 2018: NASA Pushes Back Launch Date

On 27 March 2018, NASA pushed back the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope to May 2020 or later, with a final cost estimate to come after a new launch window was determined with the ESA.

2018: Gregory L. Robinson Appointed as Webb Program Director

In 2018, Gregory L. Robinson was appointed as the new director of the Webb program, credited with significantly improving the program's schedule efficiency.

2019: Mission Cost Cap Increased

In 2019, the mission cost cap for the James Webb Space Telescope was increased by US$800 million.

May 2020: Launch Windows Paused Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

In May 2020, launch windows for the James Webb Space Telescope were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

March 2021: Cycle 1 GO Programs Announced

On 30 March 2021, the selection of Cycle 1 GO programs for the James Webb Space Telescope was announced, with 266 programs approved.

December 2021: James Webb Space Telescope Launched

On 25 December 2021 at 12:20 UTC, the James Webb Space Telescope was launched (designated Ariane flight VA256) on an Ariane 5 rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. The telescope was confirmed to be receiving power, starting a two-week deployment phase of its parts and traveling to its target destination.

December 2021: First Mid-Course Correction Burn

On 25 December 2021, approximately 12 hours after launch, the James Webb Space Telescope's pair of primary rockets began firing for 65 minutes to make the first of three planned mid-course corrections.

December 2021: Second Mid-Course Correction and Sunshield Deployment Begins

On 27 December 2021, 60 hours after launch, the James Webb Space Telescope's rockets fired for nine minutes and 27 seconds for the second mid-course correction. On 28 December 2021, mission controllers began the multi-day deployment of Webb's sunshield. On 30 December 2021, the aft "momentum flap" was deployed.

December 2021: Telescoping "Mid Booms" Extended

On 31 December 2021, the ground team extended the two telescoping "mid booms" from the left and right sides of the James Webb Space Telescope.

2021: James Webb Space Telescope Launched

At the end of 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope was launched with a total cost of just under US$10 billion.

January 2022: Secondary Mirror Successfully Deployed

Between 3 and 4 January, commands to separate and tension the James Webb Space Telescope's membranes were successful. On 5 January 2022, mission control successfully deployed the telescope's secondary mirror.

January 2022: Mirror Alignment Begins

On 12 January 2022, mirror alignment began on the James Webb Space Telescope. The primary mirror segments and the secondary mirror were moved away from their protective launch positions.

January 2022: Final Course Correction and Insertion into Halo Orbit

On 24 January 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope performed a third and final course correction, inserting it into its planned halo orbit around the Sun–Earth L2 point.

January 2022: James Webb Space Telescope Reaches L2

On 24 January 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope reached the L2 Lagrange point after a month-long journey, entering its planned orbit. The flight included three planned course corrections to adjust its speed and direction.

January 2022: Primary Mirror Wings Unfolded

On 7 and 8 January 2022, NASA deployed and locked in place the port-side and starboard-side mirror wings of the James Webb Space Telescope, completing the structural deployment of the observatory.

February 2022: NIRCam Detects First Photons and Phase 1 Alignment Completed

In February 2022, NIRCam detected the James Webb Space Telescope's first photons. By 11 February 2022, Phase 1 of alignment was almost completed, with every segment of its primary mirror having located and imaged the target star HD 84406. Phase 1 alignment was completed on 18 February 2022.

May 2022: Micrometeoroid Strike on C3 Mirror Segment

Between 23 and 25 May 2022, the C3 mirror segment of the James Webb Space Telescope suffered a micrometeoroid strike from a large dust mote-sized particle, the fifth and largest strike since launch.

June 2022: Micrometeoroid Strike Reported

On 8 June 2022, the micrometeoroid strike from the previous May on the C3 mirror segment of the James Webb Space Telescope, was reported requiring engineers to compensate for the strike using a mirror actuator.

July 2022: JWST Observing Modes Confirmed Ready for Science Use

As of 10 July 2022, a NASA characterization report confirmed that all JWST observing modes have been reviewed and are ready for science use, despite the micrometeoroid strike in May 2022.

July 2022: JWST images of Jupiter

In July 2022, NASA presented images of Jupiter and related areas captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), including infrared views.

July 2022: Gregory L. Robinson Retires After Webb Commissioning

In July 2022, after the Webb's commissioning process was complete and it began transmitting its first data, Gregory L. Robinson retired following a 33-year career at NASA.

July 2022: JWST Begins Full Scientific Operations

On 11 July 2022, the JWST completed its commissioning and began full scientific operations.

July 2022: First Full-Color Images and Spectroscopic Data Released

On 12 July 2022, the first full-color images and spectroscopic data from the James Webb Space Telescope were released, marking the official start of its general science operations. On 11 July 2022, U.S. President Joe Biden revealed the first image, Webb's First Deep Field.

August 2022: NASA releases mosaic image of early galaxies

On 17 August 2022, NASA released a large mosaic image of 690 individual frames, taken by the NIRCam on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), of numerous very early galaxies.

September 2022: Primordial black holes proposed as explanation for early galaxies

In September 2022, it was proposed that primordial black holes could explain the unexpectedly large and early galaxies observed by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

2022: NASA Releases Report on Lavender Scare Allegations

In 2022, NASA released a report of an investigation into allegations regarding James E. Webb's involvement in the lavender scare, finding no direct evidence linking him to actions related to the firing of individuals for their sexual orientation.

May 2023: Cycle 2 GO Program Announced

On 10 May 2023, the Cycle 2 GO program for the James Webb Space Telescope was announced.

May 2024: JWST identifies most distant known galaxy

In May 2024, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) identified the most distant known galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0, which was observed just 290 million years after the Big Bang.

August 2025: Dynamical mass measurement of black hole in LRD galaxy

In August 2025, Juodžbalis et al. reported a direct dynamical mass measurement of a black hole in a strongly lensed LRD galaxy UHZ1 at redshift z=7.04, finding a central mass of about 50 million solar masses.