What lessons has JWST learned from past missions?
Many lessons were learned from building UV, optical, infrared and X-ray missions like HST, Spitzer and Chandra, including a key aspect of the JWST strategy: early independent tests of key optical parameters, with the highest performance tests performed at the lowest levels of assembly. The strategy also includes a full-up system test of the final assembly to catch significant errors anywhere in the optical chain. The lessons learned from earlier cryogenic telescopes have directly led to a most robust cold-testing strategy, including early testing, a “cup-up” design, keeping as much of the testing hardware as possible external to the helium shroud, and designing the testing equipment to be relatively accessible during the test period.
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- What lessons has JWST learned from past missions?
