NASA GSFC served in the role of oversight for the development and delivery of the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) Cryocooler subsystem for JWST. Kim Banks (Cryogenics and Fluids/552) served as the subsystem Lead. Throughout the development of the JWST MIRI Cryocooler, the team consisted of personnel from multiple organizations (e.g., Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems and Jet Propulsion Laboratory to name a few). JWST successfully launched on December 25, 2021. Following spacecraft launch, commissioning activities were staged from the STSci (Space Telescope Science Institute) located in Baltimore, MD. The MIRI cryocooler was powered up on January 4, 2022 and subjected to a series of performance diagnostic tests followed by cooldown to platform operational temperatures. The team monitored by the MIRI Cryocooler Commissioning team 24/7 throughout its cooldown process.
