NASA engineer Ernie Wright looks on as the first six flight ready James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror segments are prepped to begin final cryogenic testing at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Credit: NASA/MSFC/David Higginbotham September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA The first six flight ready James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror segments are prepped to begin final cryogenic testing at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Credit: NASA/Chris Gunn
About Image
NASA engineer Ernie Wright looks on as the first six flight ready James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror segments are prepped to begin final cryogenic testing at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. Credit: NASA/MSFC/David Higginbotham NASA/MSFC/David Higginbotham
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA NASA
The first six flight ready James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror segments are prepped to begin final cryogenic testing at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Credit: NASA/Chris Gunn NASA/Chris Gunn
Mission name: Webb

James Webb Space Telescope

Webb will be used to hunt for solar systems capable of supporting habitable planets.

Mission news and discoveries
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
What Are Hubble and Webb Observing Right Now? NASA Tool Has the Answer (NASA)March 07, 2024
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA Astronomer Sees Power in Community, Works to Build More (NASA)February 23, 2024
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Glowing Cloud Points to a Cosmic Collision (NASA)February 20, 2024
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Discovery Alert: A ‘Super-Earth’ in the Habitable Zone (NASA)February 01, 2024
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Meet the Infrared Telescopes That Paved the Way for NASA’s Webb (NASA)December 26, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Rings in Holidays With Ringed Planet Uranus (NASA)December 18, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Identifies Tiniest Free-Floating Brown Dwarf (NASA)December 13, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Searching for Biosignature Gases with WebbNovember 30, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Assessment of NASA’s NExSS Research Coordination NetworkNovember 28, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Telescope Improves Simulation Software (NASA)October 31, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The Earth as a Transiting ExoplanetOctober 19, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Finds Carbon Source on Surface of Jupiter’s Moon Europa (NASA Goddard)September 23, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb Discovers Methane, Carbon Dioxide in Atmosphere of K2-18 b (NASA Goddard)September 11, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb Detects Water Vapor in Rocky Planet-Forming Zone (NASA Goddard)July 24, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA Science Live: Webb's First YearJuly 14, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb Telescope Finds No Signs of a Thick Atmosphere Around a Second TRAPPIST-1 Planet (Many Worlds)June 29, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb Makes First Detection of Crucial Carbon Molecule (NASA Goddard)June 27, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb Rules Out Thick Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere for Rocky Exoplanet (NASA Goddard)June 21, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb Maps Surprisingly Large Plume Jetting From Saturn’s Moon Enceladus (NASA Goddard)May 30, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Finds Water, and a New Mystery, in Rare Main Belt Comet (NASA Goddard)May 16, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Takes Closest Look Yet at Mysterious Planet (NASA JPL)May 11, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb Looks for Fomalhaut’s Asteroid Belt and Finds Much More (NASA Goddard)May 10, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb Finds Water Vapor, But From a Rocky Planet or Its Star? (NASA Goddard)May 01, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
What Webb is Learning About Exoplanet AtmospheresApril 13, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Measures the Temperature of a Rocky Exoplanet (NASA Goddard)March 28, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Spots Swirling, Gritty Clouds on Remote Planet (NASA Goddard)March 23, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb Spots its First Earth-Sized ExoplanetJanuary 31, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
A New Method to Detect Exoplanet Atmospheres with WebbJanuary 24, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb Unveils Dark Side of Pre-stellar Ice Chemistry (NASA Goddard)January 24, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
2022 in AstrobiologyJanuary 03, 2023
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Exploring Nitrous Oxide as a Sign of LifeDecember 29, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The Search for Habitable, Earth-Sized Planets around SPECULOOS-2December 27, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Two Exoplanets May Be Mostly Water, NASA's Hubble and Spitzer Find (NASA Goddard)December 16, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The Cosmos, As Viewed By The James Webb Space TelescopeDecember 04, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Reveals an Exoplanet Atmosphere as Never Seen Before (NASA Goddard)November 22, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The Virtual Planetary Lab and Its Search for What Makes an Exoplanet Habitable, or Even InhabitedSeptember 23, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Detects Carbon Dioxide in Exoplanet AtmosphereAugust 26, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA Scientists Study How to Remove Planetary 'Photobombers' (NASA Goddard)August 17, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Exoplanet Clouds: 'Jewels' of New Knowledge (NASA JPL)August 16, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Astronomy Data and the Search for Habitable WorldsAugust 03, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
First Images from the Webb Space Telescope (NASA)July 12, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Reveals Steamy Atmosphere of Distant Planet in Detail (NASA)July 12, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Delivers Deepest Infrared Image of Universe Yet (NASA)July 11, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The Search For Life: Are We Alone?June 21, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
MIRI’s Sharper View Hints at New Possibilities for Science (NASA)May 10, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb In Full Focus, Ready for Instrument Commissioning (NASA)April 29, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Cosmic Milestone: NASA Confirms 5,000 ExoplanetsMarch 21, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Day of Discovery: 7 Earth-Size PlanetsFebruary 22, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA to Discuss Webb’s Arrival at Final Destination, Next StepsJanuary 21, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The Amazing Unfurling Of The James Webb Space TelescopeJanuary 03, 2022
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Track the Webb Telescope and Follow its Deployment (NASA)December 27, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA's Webb Telescope Launches to See First Galaxies, Distant Worlds (NASA)December 25, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA, Partners Complete Webb Rocket Rollout (NASA)December 24, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The James Webb Telescope and Exoplanet ScienceDecember 23, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
James Webb Launch Moves to Dec. 24 (NASA)December 14, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Join the Webb Space Telescope Global NASA Social!  (NASA)December 07, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Arrives in French Guiana After Sea Voyage (NASA)October 12, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA Announces Virtual Webb STEAM Day Event for Students, Educators (NASA)September 23, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb to Explore Forming Planetary Systems (NASA Goddard)September 22, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA Readies James Webb Space Telescope for December Launch (NASA)September 08, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Has Completed Testing (NASA Goddard)August 26, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb to Explore a Neighboring, Dusty Planetary System (NASA)July 26, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Search for Life: Astrobiology in the Solar System and BeyondJune 25, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Webb’s Golden Mirror Wings Open One Last Time on Earth (NASA Goddard)May 11, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA's Webb to Study Young Exoplanets on the EdgeApril 22, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope General Observer Scientific Programs SelectedMarch 30, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Distant Planet May Be On Its Second Atmosphere, NASA's Hubble FindsMarch 12, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
A Close Exoplanet Found That May Have An Atmosphere Ideal For StudyMarch 05, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Completes Final Functional Tests to Prepare for LaunchMarch 02, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
James Webb Space Telescope User Committee: Call for NominationsJanuary 28, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
21 Ways to Celebrate the James Webb Space Telescope Launch in 2021January 06, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s Webb Telescope Looks Back on 2020 Engineering MilestonesJanuary 05, 2021
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The Cosmic Dust in Your BonesNovember 18, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Superflares and the Habitability of PlanetsOctober 08, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA Missions Spy First Possible ‘Survivor’ Planet Hugging White Dwarf Star (NASA)September 16, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Giada Arney, Research Space Scientist, Will Look for Life on Exoplanets (NASA Goddard)August 26, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA's Webb Telescope Will Study Jupiter, Its Rings, and Two Intriguing MoonsAugust 03, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA Announces New James Webb Space Telescope Target Launch DateJuly 17, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope Completes Comprehensive Systems TestJuly 13, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Close and Tranquil Solar System Has Astronomers ExcitedJuly 02, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Are Planets with Oceans Common in the Galaxy? (NASA Goddard)June 18, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Studying Sub-Neptune Atmospheres with James WebbMay 04, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
New Technique May Give NASA’s Webb Telescope a Way to Quickly Identify Planets with OxygenJanuary 06, 2020
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Apply for "The PI Launchpad: From Science Idea to NASA Mission"September 25, 2019
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
ExoClimes V Presentations Now Available On-Demand!September 09, 2019
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NExSS 2.0May 13, 2019
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA Selects New Mission to Explore Origins of UniverseFebruary 18, 2019
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Picking Planets from the TESS CatalogFebruary 06, 2019
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
National Academies Strategic DocumentsDecember 20, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Searching for Life in the Great BeyondNovember 27, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
A Planet Near the Gap Between Super-Earths and Sub-NeptunesNovember 19, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Eliminating Oxygen False Positives for Habitable PlanetsNovember 15, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Science Strategies Chart Course for Detecting Life on Other WorldsOctober 19, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Technosignatures and the Search for Extraterrestrial IntelligenceOctober 18, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Inferring Planetary and Stellar Properties in SpectraSeptember 25, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Exoplanet Science StrategySeptember 21, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
15,000 Galaxies in One ImageAugust 21, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Small Planets around a Bright Young Field StarAugust 16, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The Search for Life: Utilizing Science to Explore our Solar System and Make New DiscoveriesAugust 07, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Exoplanet Fomalhaut b On the MoveMay 07, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
TESS: NASA's Next Planet Hunter Takes to the SkyApril 18, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The Just-Approved European ARIEL Mission Will Be First Dedicated to Probing Exoplanet AtmospheresApril 02, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
The Transit Light Source EffectFebruary 19, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Venus' Role in Understanding Habitable WorldsFebruary 08, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
New Clues to Compositions of TRAPPIST-1 PlanetsFebruary 06, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
False Positives, False Negatives; The World of Distant Biosignatures Attracts and ConfoundsJanuary 29, 2018
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Atmospheric Beacons of Life from Exoplanets Around G and K StarsDecember 05, 2017
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
CATSUP for Nearby StarsNovember 22, 2017
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Furthering the Hunt for Habitable Planets with StatisticsSeptember 22, 2017
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Kepler Has Taught Us That Rocky Planets Are CommonJuly 03, 2017
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Where Is the Habitable Zone for M-Dwarf Stars?June 30, 2016
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Could Earth’s light blue color be a signature of life?May 06, 2016
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
Identifying Planetary Biosignature ImpostorsApril 19, 2016
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Primary Mirror Fully AssembledFebruary 03, 2016
September 2009 artist's conception of the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA
NASA’s NExSS Coalition to Lead Search for Life on Distant WorldsApril 24, 2015