JWST Near-InfraRed Spectrograph (NIRSpec)

Wavelength Coverage

The JWST Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) enables 0.6–5.3 μm spectroscopy at resolving powers of ~100, ~1,000, and ~2,700 in four observing modes. NIRSpec is designed to be particularly powerful for multiplexing spectroscopy and high contrast, high throughput single-object spectroscopy.

Active From

(Launch dates TBD)

Resolution

Varies by Observing Mode: see Table 1 for details: NIRSpec Modes

Pixel Scale: ~0.1"/pixel
Resolution: ~100 (prism) ; ~1000 (medium) ; ~2700 (high)

Capabilities

Search Tools

Primary Documents

NIRSpec Instrument

Image Gallery

NIRSpec CAD Diagram

(Image courtesy JDOX.)

JWST NIRSpec Optical Path

JWST NIRSpec Microshutter Array

NIRSpec's full microshutter array. (Image courtesy NASA.)

JWST NIRSpec Individual Microshutters

An extreme close-up view of some individual closed microshutters. (Image courtesy JDox.)

JWST NIRSpec Grating Wheel

(Image courtesy Astrium/NIRSpec.)

JWST NIRSpec Testing

EADS Astrium engineers are seen in this image routing a cable for an acoustic test for one of the James Webb Space Telescope's scientific instruments at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center's cleanroom in Greenbelt, MD. (Image courtesy NASA/Chris Gunn.)

JWST NIRSpec Installation

In March 2014, the James Webb Space Telescope's flight Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) was installed into the instrument module. (Image courtesy NASA/Chris Gunn.)