Paper 14145-21
Paper 14145-21
JWST at four years: prime mission highlights and legacy
6 July 2026 • 10:30 - 10:50 CEST | Room B4-M3
Abstract
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has achieved spectacular success as an infrared space observatory, marking a new era in astrophysics and planetary science. JWST developed many new technologies and was the first to demonstrate segmented-telescope wavefront sensing in space, providing a path to even larger space telescopes. The observatory's performance has exceeded expectations, delivering unprecedented infrared sensitivity. The science mission has transformed our understanding of the early universe, exoplanet atmospheres, stellar formation, and galaxy evolution. The lessons learned from its design, deployment, and operations provide key insights for the development and implementation of next-generation space telescopes and astronomical instrumentation. This presentation will report on the JWST prime mission highlights and its lasting legacy for space science.
Presenter
NASA Goddard Space Flight Ctr. (United States)
Michael McElwain is the James Webb Space Telescope’s Observatory Project Scientist, Habitable World Observatory’s Observatory Project Scientist, and the Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics Laboratory Chief at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Michael’s research interests include large space telescopes and specialized instrumentation for exoplanet characterization. He earned his PhD at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a member of the Infrared Laboratory. He was a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University and policy fellow at the National Academies before joining NASA.