In-orbit Commissioning of the Near-Infrared Spectrograph on the James Webb Space Telescope

TL;DR

This paper details the successful in-orbit commissioning of NIRSpec on the James Webb Space Telescope, verifying hardware, performance, and readiness for scientific observations.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the commissioning process and performance assessment of NIRSpec in space for the first time.

Findings

All hardware components verified and operational.

NIRSpec modes ready for scientific use.

Mechanical and thermal performance within specifications.

Abstract

The Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) is one of the four focal plane instruments on the James Webb Space Telescope which was launched on Dec. 25, 2021. We present an overview of the as-run NIRSpec commissioning campaign, with particular emphasis on the sequence of activities that led to the verification of all hardware components of NIRSpec. We also discuss the mechanical, thermal, and operational performance of NIRSpec, as well as the readiness of all NIRSpec observing modes for use in the upcoming JWST science program.