Technology

James Webb Space Telescope

NASA yet again delayed its next generation space observatory called James Webb
Space Telescope(JWST). It now has a launch date March 30th, 2021. First
envisioned in 1996, JWST was originally expected to cost between $1 billion and
$3.5 billion, with a launch date scheduled for some time between 2007 and 2011.
But the cost of the project grew throughout the early 2000s, soaring above $4.5
billion, as the telescope’s launch was consistently postponed. Then in 2011, the
JWST program went through an extensive replan: a new launch date was set for
2018, and Congress capped the cost of the telescope’s development at $8 billion.
After that, NASA said JWST would ultimately cost $8.8 billion, with an extra $837
million needed to operate the telescope once it was in space. But complications
came up again and now JWST has a new launch date. And going beyond the $8
billion cap means the congress have to reauthorize the program. JWST team
members said during the press conference that they have already submitted a
report to Congress and plan to try to get the project reauthorized later this year in
time for the government’s next appropriations cycle.
Originally envisioned in 1996
as a successor to the Hubble
Space Telescope, Once JWST
out there, the telescope will
be hailed as the most powerful
space observatory in the
world, thanks to its 18
beryllium hexagon pieces, all
of which are coated with a
thin layer of gold. When in
formation, these pieces make
up one giant primary mirror
that spans more than 21 feet
(6.5 meters) across. That’s
An artistic rendering of the James Webb Space Telescope
six times larger than the
mirror on NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. This huge mirror will give JWST an
unbelievable amount of precision. The telescope will be able to peer into the
atmospheres of planets outside our Solar System and peek through massive
clouds of dust to watch the birth of new stars and planetary systems. But above
all, JWST will be able to gather and reflect light from the early Universe. The
Universe is thought to be around 13.8 billion years old, and JWST will be able to
observe light from the earliest stars and galaxies.
In a video statement released on 27th June 2018, NASA administrator Jim
Bridenstine said “We’re all disappointed that the culmination of Webb and its
launch is taking longer than expected, but we’re creating something new here.
We’re dealing with cutting-edge technology to perform an unprecedented
mission, and I know that our teams are working hard and will successfully
overcome the challenges,”. Despite the unexpected delays he still tries to remind
of us about the long-term benefits of this important mission.” In space we always
have to look at the long term, and sometimes the complexities of our missions
don’t come together as soon as we wish. But we learn, we move ahead, and
ultimately we succeed.”
Lets hope that these complications will get sorted out and the project will become
success and let JWST serve our civilization with more insight to the space for
years to come.