This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies.

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Abstract:With the delivery of its flight scientific instruments and the completion of all telescope optics both scheduled to occur later this year, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will enter into a challengin g integration and test (I&T) program. Highlights of that program include cryo-vacuum tests of the Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) at Goddard Space Flight Center, ambient integration of the ISIM and the Optical Telescope Element (OTE) at Goddard, and an end-to-end cryo-vacuum test of the OTE + ISIM system at Johnson Space Center. We review the overall flow of the I&T program, highlighting the key activities and the critical verifications to be.performed at each step.

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Space Telescope (JWST) optical telescope element and integrated science instrument module (OTIS) cryogenic test program and results,"