The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

TL;DR

This paper evaluates JWST's science performance during commissioning, showing it exceeds expectations in sensitivity, stability, and imaging, enabling groundbreaking astronomical discoveries across a wide range of targets.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive assessment of JWST's actual performance post-commissioning, highlighting its capabilities and improvements over pre-launch predictions.

Findings

JWST is fully capable of achieving its scientific goals.

Performance is better than expected, with deeper and faster observations.

Demonstrates high sensitivity, stability, and spectral range for diverse astronomical observations.

Abstract

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.