The only payload on the flight was the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a space-based observatory built by NASA and ESA.

[6] On 22 November 2021 an incident was reported by NASA and Arianespace that a clamp band securing the payload to the adapter was released during integration activities, causing vibrations to the telescope.

[7] After some tests were performed, a review board concluded on 24 November 2021 that no payload component was damaged, and fuelling operations could be started.

"[16][17] The James Webb Space Telescope was injected into a transfer trajectory that took it to the second Earth-Sun Lagrange point (L2).

[18] The second stage downloaded video, the last known time the telescope will be seen, of the separation and initial deployment of the solar panels.

About 29 days after liftoff, it executed a maneuver placing it into a halo orbit around the L2 point, where it can perform its science mission.