Integrated Science Instrument Module

Part of the James Webb Space Telescope

Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) is a component of the James Webb Space Telescope, a large international infrared space telescope launched on 25 December 2021.^[1] ISIM is the heart of the JWST, and holds the main science payload which includes four science instruments and the fine guidance sensor.^[1]

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.^[1] 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 and sunshield.^[1] ISIM has a mass of 1400 kg (3086 lb),^[2]^[3] about 23% of the mass of the JWST.

The infrared camera instrument integrated with ISIM passed its thermal tests in early 2016.^[4] ISIM underwent intense thermal cold testing in late 2015 to early 2016.^[5] 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.^[4] The tests were very positive because NIRcam showed it was very stable through vibration and thermal testing.^[4] 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.^[4]

Summary

ISIM test video by NASA

ISIM contains these instruments:^[1]

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).^[1] Relevant systems and subsystems the ISIM:^[6]

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 to aid in its production.^[1] 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.^[1] MIRI needs to be colder than the other instruments so it has an additional cooler.^[1] MIRI is the mid-infrared instrument.^[1] The Command and Data Handling subsystem uses the spacecraft on-board communication standard called SpaceWire.^[7] SpaceWire was developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), and provides low-power data communication at up to 200 Mbits per second.^[7]

Regions:^[1]

Cryogenic instrument module
Electronics Compartment (ISIM Electronics Compartment (IEC))
ISIM Command and Data Handling subsystem (ICDH)
- This is located inside the spacecraft bus
- 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.^[8]

ISIM Electronics Compartment (IEC)

The ISIM Electronics Compartment (IEC) is a section of ISIM that houses computing and electrical resources for the instruments.^[9] The main electronics for each of the instruments is housed in this thermally wrapped box.^[9] In 2014 the electronics for NIRspec were installed in the IEC.^[10] 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.^[11] The box can dissipate about 200 watts of electrical power.^[11] 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.^[11] 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.^[11] The IEC box sits just below most of the instruments and behind it, but above the spacecraft bus.^[11]

There is one side that is made of aluminum and the other sides are composite.^[11] It is wrapped in multiple layers of insulation including six layers of SLI (the JWST Single Layer Insulation).^[11] Some of the features for thermal (heat) management include a parasitic tray radiator and baffles.^[11]

IEC constitutes region 2 of ISIM.^[12]

Gallery

ISIM inside a cage for a gravity test, 2014
ISIM being prepared for a thermal vacuum test, 2013
NIRcam being installed in ISIM, 2014
MIRI installed, 2013

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k "The James Webb Space Telescope". jwst.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-12-03. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
^ eoPortal – JWST (James Webb Space Telescope)
^ "Status of the JWST Integrated Science Instrument Module". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Lockheed Martin Readies One of the Most Sensitive IR Instruments Ever Made for NASA Telescope". www.lockheedmartin.com. Retrieved 2017-05-07.
^ "James Webb Telescope science instruments begin final super cold test". Retrieved 2017-01-24.
^ "ISIM - Integrated Science Instrument Module". www.stsci.edu. Archived from the original on 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
^ ^a ^b "NASA - NASA's James Webb Space Telescope Gets 'Spacewired'".
^ Maurice Te Plate, et al. "JWST’s near infrared spectrograph status and first OTIS test results", Proc. SPIE 10698, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 1069807 (6 July 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2312651
^ ^a ^b "NASA - The Webb Telescope's Holiday Package". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
^ "Installing NIRSpec electronics in the ISIM electronics compartment". sci.esa.int. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Garrison, Matthew; Parrish, Keith; Perrygo, Charles. "ISIM Electronics Compartment Design for the James Webb Space Telescope" (PDF). NASA. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
^ "Instruments and ISIM (Integrated Science Instrument Module) Webb/NASA".