Preparing the NIRSpec/JWST science data calibration: from ground testing to sky

TL;DR

This paper discusses the calibration process for the NIRSpec instrument on JWST, detailing ground testing and modeling efforts to prepare for in-orbit calibration and ensure high-quality scientific data.

Contribution

It provides an overview of the ground testing and calibration scheme development for NIRSpec, which will be refined after JWST's launch.

Findings

Ground testing enabled initial calibration corrections.

A detailed instrument model supports calibration efforts.

Calibration scheme will be updated post-launch.

Abstract

The Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) is one of four instruments aboard the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). NIRSpec is developed by ESA with AIRBUS Defence & Space as prime contractor. The calibration of its various observing modes is a fundamental step to achieve the mission science goals and provide users with the best quality data from early on in the mission. Extensive testing of NIRSpec on the ground, aided by a detailed model of the instrument, allow us to derive initial corrections for the foreseeable calibrations. We present a snapshot of the current calibration scheme that will be revisited once JWST is in orbit.