
Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) is a component of the
James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is a space telescope which conducts infrared astronomy. As the largest optical telescope in space, its high resolution and sensitivity allow it to view objects too old, distant, or faint for the Hubble ...
, a large international infrared space telescope launched on .
ISIM is the heart of the JWST, and holds the main science payload which includes four science instruments and the fine guidance sensor.
[
ISIM is the spacecraft chassis and instruments that take the light from the main mirror and convert that into the science data that is then sent back to Earth.] The other two major sections of the JWST are the Optical Telescope Element (OTE) (mirrors and their structure) and the Spacecraft Element (SE), which includes the spacecraft bus
A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held.
Bus-derived satellites are opposed to specially produced satellites. Bus-d ...
and sunshield. ISIM has a mass of 1400 kg (3086 lb), about 23% of the mass of the JWST.
The infrared camera instrument integrated with ISIM passed its thermal tests in early 2016. ISIM underwent intense thermal cold testing in late 2015 to early 2016. NIRcam is extremely important to JWST, because it's not only a sensitive infrared camera, but it is also used to adjust the alignment of the main mirror segments. The tests were very positive because NIRcam showed it was very stable through vibration and thermal testing. NIRcam was installed into ISIM in March 2014, and then underwent integration and testing after that, as the telescope was readied for its originally planned 2019 launch.
Summary
ISIM contains these instruments:[
* Near-Infrared Camera, or NIRCam
* Near-Infrared Spectrograph, or NIRSpec.
* Mid-Infrared Instrument, or MIRI
* Fine Guidance Sensor/ Near InfraRed Imager and Slitless Spectrograph , or FGS/NIRISS
ISIM also includes the MIRI crycooler, which extends down into the spacecraft bus (on the hot side of the spacecraft).][
Relevant systems and subsystems the ISIM:
*Optical metering structure
*ISIM Electronics Compartment (IEC)
*harness radiator
*ISIM Command and Data Handling System (ICDH)
*ISIM Remote Services Unit (IRSU)
*electrical harness system
*thermal control system
*flight software system
*on-board script system
Three regions to ISIM were defined by ]NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA ) is an independent agency of the US federal government responsible for the civil space program, aeronautics research, and space research.
NASA was established in 1958, succeedi ...
to aid in its production.[ The three regions include the cryogenic instrument module (1), the electronics compartment (2), and finally the Command and Data Handling subsystem and MIRI crycooler(3), which is inside the spacecraft bus physically.][ MIRI needs to be colder than the other instruments so it has an additional cooler.][ MIRI is the ]mid-infrared
Infrared (IR), sometimes called infrared light, is electromagnetic radiation (EMR) with wavelengths longer than those of visible light. It is therefore invisible to the human eye. IR is generally understood to encompass wavelengths from around ...
instrument.[ The Command and Data Handling subsystem uses the spacecraft on-board communication standard called ]SpaceWire
SpaceWire is a spacecraft communication network based in part on the IEEE 1355 standard of communications. It is coordinated by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with international space agencies including NASA, JAXA, and RKA.
W ...
. SpaceWire was developed by the European Space Agency
, owners =
, headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France
, coordinates =
, spaceport = Guiana Space Centre
, seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png
, seal_size = 130px
, image = Views in the Main Control Room (120 ...
(ESA), and provides low-power data communication at up to 200 Mbits per second.
Regions:[
*Cryogenic instrument module
*Electronics Compartment (ISIM Electronics Compartment (IEC))
*ISIM Command and Data Handling subsystem (ICDH)
**This is located inside the ]spacecraft bus
A satellite bus (or spacecraft bus) is the main body and structural component of a satellite or spacecraft, in which the payload and all scientific instruments are held.
Bus-derived satellites are opposed to specially produced satellites. Bus-d ...
**Also includes MIRI cryocooler
In May 2016, OTE and ISIM were merged into what is called OTIS, which is the combination of these two regions.
ISIM Electronics Compartment (IEC)
The ISIM Electronics Compartment (IEC) is a section of ISIM that houses computing and electrical resources for the instruments. The main electronics for each of the instruments is housed in this thermally wrapped box. In 2014 the electronics for NIRspec were installed in the IEC. The IEC is mounted to the cryogenic structure of the main telescope, and the enclosure must maintain a much warmer temperature for the electronics inside, but not allow that heat to negatively affect the main telescope. The box can dissipate about 200 watts of electrical power. One of the considerations is to direct the majority of the heat (radiatively) in a roughly 20 degree angle in between the back of the main mirror structure and instruments and the sunshield. Not too close to the back of the telescope or too close to the sunshield, but by using baffles and insulation, direct the heat out into space. The IEC box sits just below most of the instruments and behind it, but above the spacecraft bus.
There is one side that is made of aluminum and the other sides are composite. It is wrapped in multiple layers of insulation including six layers of SLI (the JWST Single Layer Insulation). Some of the features for thermal (heat) management include a parasitic tray radiator and baffles.
IEC constitutes region 2 of ISIM.
Gallery
File:NASA's Webb Telescope ISIM Gets Cubed for Gravity Test (15930824442).jpg, ISIM inside a cage for a gravity test, 2014
File:Readying ISIM for its First Thermal Vacuum Test (9550050434).jpg, ISIM being prepared for a thermal vacuum test, 2013
File:Engineers Install Near Infrared Camera into the Heart of Webb Telescope (13543822205).jpg, NIRcam being installed in ISIM, 2014
File:Key Science Instrument Installed into Webb Structure (8705202868).jpg, MIRI installed, 2013
See also
* Optical Telescope Element (mirrors)
* Timeline of the James Webb Space Telescope
References
External links
STSCi - ISIM
ISIM cryo-testing
{{Jwstnav
James Webb Space Telescope