The James Webb Space Telescope Mission: Optical Telescope Element Design, Development, and Performance
Authors: McElwain Michael W. , Feinberg Lee D. , Perrin Marshall D. , Clampin Mark , Mountain C. Matt , Lallo Matthew D. , Lajoie Charles-Philippe , Kimble Randy A. , Bowers Charles W. , Stark Christopher C. , Acton D. Scott , Atkinson Charles , Barinek Beth , Barto Allison , Basinger Scott , Beck Tracy , Bergkoetter Matthew D. , Bluth Marcel , Boucarut Rene A. , Brady Gregory R. , Brooks Keira J. , Brown Bob , Byard John , Carey Larkin , Carrasquilla Maria , Chae Dan , Chaney David , Chayer Pierre , Chonis Taylor , Cohen Lester , Cole Helen J. , Comeau Thomas M. , Coon Matthew , Coppock Eric , Coyle Laura , Dean Bruce H. , Dziak Kenneth J. , Eisenhower Michael , Flagey Nicolas , Franck Randy , Gallagher Benjamin , Gilman Larry , Glassman Tiffany , Green Joseph J. , Grieco John , Haase Shari , Hadjimichael Theodore J. , Hagopian John G. , Hahn Walter G. , Hartig George F. , Havey Keith A. , Hayden William L. , Hellekson Robert , Hicks Brian , Holfeltz Sherie T. , Howard Joseph M. , Huguet Jesse A. , Jahne Brian , Johnson Leslie A. , Johnston John D. , Jurling Alden S. , Kegley Jeffrey R. , Kennard Scott , Keski-Kuha Ritva A. , Knight J. Scott , Kulp Bernard A. , Levi Joshua S. , Levine Marie B. , Lightsey Paul , Luetgens Robert A. , Mather John C. , Matthews Gary W. , McKay Andrew G. , Mehalick Kimberly I. , Meléndez Marcio , Mosier Gary E. , Murphy Jess , Nelan Edmund P. , Niedner Malcolm B. , Nol Darin M. , Ohara Catherine M. , Ohl Raymond G. , Olczak Eugene , Osborne Shannon B. , Park Sang , Perrygo Charles , Pueyo Laurent , Redding David C. , Regan Michael W. , Reynolds Paul , Rifelli Rich , Rigby Jane R. , Sabatke Derek , Saif Babak N. , Scorse Thomas R. , Seo Byoung-Joon , Shi Fang , Sigrist Norbert , Smith Koby , Smith J. Scott , Smith Erin C. , Sohn Sangmo Tony , Stahl H. Philip , Telfer Randal , Terlecki Todd , Texter Scott C. , Van Buren David , Van Campen Julie M. , Vila Begoña , Voyton Mark F. , Waldman Mark , Walker Chanda B. , Weiser Nick , Wells Conrad , West Garrett , Whitman Tony L. , Wolf Erin , Zielinski Thomas P. 
Published: May 2023

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a large, infrared space telescope that has recently started its science program which will enable breakthroughs in astrophysics and planetary science. Notably, JWST will provide the very first observations of the earliest luminous objects in the universe and start a new era of exoplanet atmospheric characterization. This transformative science is enabled by a 6.6 m telescope that is passively cooled with a 5 layer sunshield. The primary mirror is comprised of 18 controllable, low areal density hexagonal segments, that were aligned and phased relative to each other in orbit using innovative image-based wave front sensing and control algorithms. This revolutionary telescope took more than two decades to develop with a widely distributed team across engineering disciplines. We present an overview of the telescope requirements, architecture, development, superb on-orbit performance, and lessons learned. JWST successfully demonstrates a segmented aperture space telescope and establishes a path to building even larger space telescopes.