【UK】

Source：Warmth Information Network Editor：Tech Time：2025-06-26 12:38:38

Another day,UK another delay for one of the most complicated space telescope projects ever undertaken.

NASA announced on Wednesday that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), a complicated mission designed to transform American astrophysics and astronomy as we understand it, is now expected to launch on March 30, 2021, about one year later than expected under a timetable announced in March.

SEE ALSO: Stand on the surface of an alien planet with NASA

Oh, and because of the delays, the telescope, which is designed to reveal more about the early universe, galaxy formation, and even alien planets than ever before, just got more expensive. Instead of costing $8.8 billion, the JWST is now expected to cost $9.66 billion.

"We're certainly annoyed that we have to wait," John Mather, JWST's senior project scientist, said during a press call, adding that it's most important that the problems with the telescope are being fixed and it's moving forward.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The trouble behind the delay and cost overruns come from a range of sources: human error, embedded problems that weren't fixed earlier in the process, and a too-optimistic attitude when it came to the progress of the telescope, according to an independent review of the JWST program.

All that said, it's already been a long wait for JWST to get off the ground.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

The mission was re-planned in 2011 after it became clear that the telescope wouldn't be ready for launch in just a few years. The launch year was then set for 2018.

All seemed to be going according to plan, but when the telescope reached its testing phase, things changed, resulting in these delays and cost overruns.

Congress now has to approve the new cost cap for the mission, and NASA, at least, appears to be fully committed to the program.

“Webb is vital to the next generation of research beyond NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. It’s going to do amazing things — things we’ve never been able to do before — as we peer into other galaxies and see light from the very dawn of time,” NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said in a statement.

Via Giphy

“Despite major challenges, the board and NASA unanimously agree that Webb will achieve mission success with the implementation of the board’s recommendations, many of which already are underway.”

Once in space, the telescope is expected to investigate the atmospheres of alien planets to figure out what they're made of. It should also be able to interpret exactly what some of the first galaxies could have looked like.

In order to do this work, the telescope will have to be about 1 million miles from Earth and use a tennis court-sized sunshield to keep it cold while in space.

First, it needs to get there.

Featured Video For You

Here’s how NASA is preparing the largest telescope ever built for space

Previous：Shop the Shark FlexStyle for 20% off at Amazon

Next：Google Pixel Buds Pro 2: $40 off at Amazon

【UK】

Related Articles

Related Recommendations

Categories

Latest Articles

Popular Articles

Hot Recommendations

Featured Column

Quick Links

Quick Links