| Time since launch | Planned time | Time | Event | Altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L+(dd:hh:mm[:ss]) | UTC | (km) | ||
| Actual | [Prelaunch] | Actual | ||
| -0:00:00:07 | 2021 Dec 25 1220:00 | Vulcain 2 engine ignition | 0 | |
| +0:00:00:00 | 2021 Dec 25 1220:07 | Launch | 0 | |
| 0:00:02:21 | 2021 Dec 25 1222:28 | EAP solid boosters shutdown and separation | 72 | |
| 0:00:03:26 | 2021 Dec 25 1223:33 | Ariane fairing halves separation | 126 | |
| 0:00:08:41? | 2021 Dec 25 1228:48 | Ariane EPC core stage shutdown | ||
| 0:00:08:47 | 2021 Dec 25 1228:54 | Ariane EPC core stage separation | 229 | |
| 0:00:08:51 | 2021 Dec 25 1228:58 | Ariane ESC-D engine start | 229 | |
| 0:00:24:51 | 2021 Dec 25 1244:58 | Ariane ESC-D engine cutoff | 928 | |
| 0:00:27:07 | 2021 Dec 25 1247:14 | Ariane ESC-D stage separates from JWST | 1391 | |
| 0:00:28:16? | [L+ 33 min] | 2021 Dec 25 1248:23? | JWST deploy solar array | 2600 |
| 0:00:29? | 2021 Dec 25 1249? | Ariane ESC-D stage performs EOLM (End of Life Manuever) | ||
| 0:12:30:00 | [L+12.5h] | 2021 Dec 26 0050 | JWST MCC-1a burn, SCAT-1/2, 16 to 17 m/s? | 133700 |
| 0:13:35:00 | 2021 Dec 26 0155 | JWST MCC-1a burn complete. Actual dV UNKNOWN | ||
| 1:02:40 | [L+ 1d] | 2021 Dec 26 1500? | JWST deploy GAA (Gimballed Antenna Assy) high gain comms antenna (and MGA?) | 228000 |
| 2:07:38 | 2021 Dec 27 1958 | JWST pass lunar orbit | 377000 | |
| 2:12:00 | [L+ 2d] | 2021 Dec 28 0020 | JWST MCC-1b burn, SCAT-1/2, 9m27s, 2 m/s? Actual dV UNKNOWN | 388500 |
| 3:02: | L+ 3.0 days | 2021 Dec 28 1430? | Begin Forward UPS (unitized pallet structures) | 444000 |
| 3:06:01 | L+ 3.0 days | 2021 Dec 28 1821 | Complete Deploy Forward UPS (unitized pallet structures) | 458000 |
| 3:12:07 | L+ 3.16 days | 2021 Dec 29 0027 | Complete Deploy Aft UPS (unitized pallet structures) | 480000 |
| L+4.07d | 2021 Dec 29 | Spacecraft-to-Optical Telescope Element launch release mechanism | ||
| L+4.1d | 2021 Dec 29 | Spacecraft-to-ISIM Electronics Compartment launch release mechanism | ||
| 4:02:25 | L+ 4.2 days | 2021 Dec 29 1445 | Begin to raise DTA (deployable telescope tower assembly) | 528000 |
| 4:09:04 | L+ 4.2 days | 2021 Dec 29 2124 | Complete raising DTA (deployable telescope tower assembly) | 549000 |
| L+ 4.48 days | Release CJAA (Cryocooler Jitter Attenuation Assy) | |||
| L+ 5.0 days | Release CCA (Cooler Compressor Assy) | |||
| 5:02? | L+ 5.05 days | 2021 Dec 30 1400? | Deploy solar trim tab (Aft Momentum Flap) on right(?) panel | 600000 |
| L+ 5.1 days | Release sunshade restraints | 600000 | ||
| 5:05:07 | L+5.17 days | 2021 Dec 30 1727 | Sunshade central covers retracted | 600000 |
| 6:06:10 | L+6.02 days | 2021 Dec 31 1830 | Start Deploy +J2 mid-boom (port sunshade boom) and DRSA-H Deployable Radiator Shade Assy/Horiz | 676000 |
| 6:09:29 | L+6.02 days | 2021 Dec 31 2149 | Complete Deploy +J2 mid-boom (port sunshade boom) and DRSA-H Deployable Radiator Shade Assy/Horiz | 684000 |
| 6:11:11 | L+6.25 days | 2021 Dec 31 2331 | Begin deploy -J2 mid-boom (stbd sunshade boom) and DRSA-H Deployable Radiator Shade Assy/Horiz | 688000 |
| 6:14:53 | L+6.25 days | 2022 Jan 1 0313 | Complete deploy -J2 mid-boom (stbd sunshade boom) and DRSA-H Deployable Radiator Shade Assy/Horiz | 698000 |
| 9:02:40 | L+7.0 days | 2022 Jan 3 1500 | Start of Sunshade tensioning and layer separation | 831000 |
| 9:08:28 | 2022 Jan 3 2048 | Layer 1 tensioned | 843000 | |
| 9:08:49 | 2022 Jan 3 2109 | Layer 2 tensioning begins | 843500 | |
| 9:10:03 | 2022 Jan 3 2223 | Layer 2 tensioned | 846000 | |
| 9:10:28 | 2022 Jan 3 2248 | Layer 3 tensioning begins | 847000 | |
| 9:11:39 | 2022 Jan 3 2359 | Layer 3 tensioned | 849000 | |
| 2022 Jan 4 | Layer 4 aft tensioning begins | |||
| 10:03:03 | 2022 Jan 4 1523 | Layer 4 tensioned | 879000 | |
| 10:03:50 | 2022 Jan 4 1610 | Layer 5 tensioning begins | ||
| 10:04:39 | 2022 Jan 4 1659 | Layer 5 tensioned | 882000 | |
| L+8.0 days | 2022 Jan 4 1700 | Complete Sunshade tensioning and layer separation | 882000 | |
| L+9.0 days | Deploy DRSA-V Deployable Radiator Shade Assy/Vert. | |||
| L+9.06 days | Deploy Star Tracker Support Assy | |||
| 11:03:56 | L + 9.9 days | 2022 Jan 5 1616 | Begin deploy SMSS (Secondary Mirror Support Structure) | 924000 |
| 11:04:32 | L + 9.9 days | 2022 Jan 5 1652 | Deploy SMSS (Secondary Mirror Support Structure) complete | 925000 |
| 12:01:28 | L+11.0 days | 2022 Jan 6 1348 | Raise ADIR (Aft Deployed Instrument Radiator) on back of ISIM | 960000 |
| 13:01:26 | L + 12.0 days | 2022 Jan 7 1336 | Begin unfold lateral PMBA (Primary Mirror Backplane Assembly) Wing 1 (port, +V2) | 998500 |
| 13:06:51 | L + 12.0 days | 2022 Jan 7 1911 | Complete unfold lateral PMBA (Primary Mirror Backplane Assembly) Wing 1 (port, +V2) | 1007100 |
| 14:03:00 | L+13.0d | 2022 Jan 8 1520? | Begin unfold lateral PMBA (Primary Mirror Backplane Assembly) Wing 2 (stbd, -V2) | |
| 14:05:57 | L + 13.0 days | 2022 Jan 8 1817 | Complete unfold lateral PMBA (Primary Mirror Backplane Assembly) Wing 2 (stbd, -V2) | 1041300 |
| 14:05:57 | L + 13 days | 2022 Jan 8 1817 | PMSA (Primary Mirror Segment Assembly) deployment complete | 1041300 |
| L + 13.8 days | Begin ACS activation | |||
| 18: | L+15.5 days | 2022 Jan 12 | Begin PMSA (Primary Mirror Segment Assy) and SMA actuation/deployment | |
| 18:03 | 2022 Jan 12 1500? | Ariane 5 upper stage leaves Earth Hill Sphere | ||
| 25: | L+25.3 days | 2022 Jan 19 | Complete mirror segment actuation/deployment | |
| 25: | L+25.3 days | 2022 Jan 19 | Activate K-band comms | |
| 30:06:40 | L + 29 days | 2022 Jan 24 1900 | MCC-2 with SCAT-3/4 thrusters, 1.5 m/s, 298 s burn - Arrive Sun Earth L2 halo orbit | 1379000 |
| 30:06:45 | L + 29 days | 2022 Jan 24 1905 | MCC-2 complete | 1379000 |
| L + 29 days | Begin cooldown | |||
| 34: | 2022 Jan 28 | FGS powered on | ||
| 36: | L+36 days | Begin telescope commissioning | ||
| 37: | L+36 days | 2022 Jan 31 | Begin mirror alignment | |
| 39: | 2022 Feb 2 | NIRCam first photons | ||
| 45:? | L+77d | 2022 Feb 8? | MIRI cooler activated | |
| 50: | L+O(1 mo) | 2022 Feb 13 | FGS guiding | |
| L+O(50d) | SKM-1 stationkeeping burn with SCAT-3/4 | |||
| 55: | L+45d | 2022 Feb 18 | Segment Image Identification, OTE segments in formation | |
| L+60d? | Phasing of OTE | |||
| 76: | 2022 Mar 11 | Fine phasing completed, NIRCAM | ||
| 82: | 2022 Mar 17 | Begin MIMF (Multi Instrument Multi Field) alignment | ||
| L + 120d | Instruments complete cooling to 50K | |||
| 117: | L + 120d | 2022 Apr 21 | MIRI cooled to 7K | |
| 124: | L+124 days | 2022 Apr 28 | Complete mirror alignment, PSF checks | |
| 124: | L+124 days | 2022 Apr 28 | Complete telescope commissioning | |
| 124: | L+124 days | 2022 Apr 28 | Begin science instrument commissioning | |
| L + 120d | Instrument calibration | |||
| 197: | L + 180d | 2022 Jul 10 | Science instrument commissioning complete | |
| 197: | L + 180d | 2022 Jul 10 | Begin Cycle 1 GO observations | |
| 199: | L + 180-200d | 2022 Jul 12 1430 | RELEASE FIRST IMAGES (ERO, Early Release Observations) |
Note: "Altitude" is relative to Earth surface, add 6378 km to get geocentric distance.