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Instruments

The Integrated Science Instrument Module, or ISIM, is the heart of the James Webb Space Telescope, what engineers call the main payload. This is the unit that will will house the four main instruments that will detect light from distant stars and galaxies, and planets orbiting other stars. The structure (pictured left) is like a chassis in a car providing support for the engine and other components.

The ISIM includes the following instruments:

• Mid-Infrared Instrument, or MIRI - provided by the European Consortium with the European Space Agency (ESA), and by the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

• Near-Infrared Camera, or NIRCam - provided by the University of Arizona

• Near-Infrared Spectrograph, or NIRSpec - provided by ESA, with components provided by NASA/GSFC.

• Fine Guidance Sensor/ Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph , or FGS/NIRISS - provided by the Canadian Space Agency. .

Many different smaller parts go into the whole ISIM structure. These include the ISIM Structure Subsystem; ISIM Thermal Control Subsystem; ISIM Control and Data Handling Subsystem; ISIM Flight Software; and ISIM Harness Assemblies.

View our image gallery for pictures of the ISIM and instruments.

As of March 2010 the ISIM is being tested in the NASA Goddard cleanroom. Watch on our "Webb-cam"!