How to Use the JWST Deployment Sequence 3D Explorer - Step by Step
Open the JWST Deployment Sequence 3D Explorer, press Play or drag the timeline slider, then read the facts panel to see the real published date and figures at each December 2021 to January 2022 milestone.
Press Play or drag the timeline slider
Press the Play button to auto-advance through the real deployment timeline, or drag the timeline-progress slider (0 to 100) to jump straight to any point. Dragging the slider pauses auto-play.
Read the milestone table
The facts panel lists all 10 real milestones - from launch through the final mirror-wing lock - with the currently active one highlighted. Scrub the slider and watch the highlighted row change to match.
Watch the tower, sunshield, and mirror wings unfold
As the timeline advances, the tower extends first, then the five-layer sunshield unfolds into its true diamond shape, then the secondary mirror extends on its struts, and finally the primary mirror's two wings rotate out and lock - in the real order these happened.
Compare the sunshield's real size
Scrub past 62% progress to reach the sunshield-tensioned milestone, then press "Show dimensions" to draw a reference rectangle at the sunshield's real published size (about 70x47 ft / 21x14 m) beside it.
Click the spacecraft, tower, or a mirror segment
Click any object in the scene to refresh the facts panel with the current milestone without moving the slider.
Drag to orbit and use fullscreen
Drag to orbit the camera, scroll or pinch to zoom, and use the Fullscreen button to expand the whole wrapper for a clearer view of the spacecraft as it unfolds.
Next: see when to use this explorer or how it compares to the JWST L2 Halo Orbit 3D Explorer.
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