NASA Delays $10 Billion Space Telescope Yet Again. It Could Now Launch On Christmas Day
NASA has again delayed the multi-billion dollar James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), this time citing communications issues.
The space telescope was due to launch on December 22, 2021, from the European Spaceport in Korou, French Guiana.
The space agency is now saying “no earlier than” December 24, 2021.
The launch window closes on January 7, 2022, though opens again on January 12, 2022.“Webb” was originally conceived in the 1990s and was first expected to launch in 2007. It had been expected to launch in March 2021, which COVID-19 delays put back to October 31 this year, then December 18 after an incident.
Its ability to detect faint infrared light will be its biggest advantage over the Hubble Space Telescope because seeing in the infrared will enable it to look much farther back in time. It’s hoped that Webb will help solve mysteries in our Solar System, closely study exoplanets and probe the structures and origins of the Universe.
Just a few days ago NASA announced that Webb had been hoisted and secured on top of the Ariane 5 rocket that will launch it to space. It’s folded into the 5.4 meter/17.7ft. fairing of the Ariane 5 for launch, the largest rocket fairing NASA could find.
NASA said today in a launch update that:
“The James Webb Space Telescope team is working on a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system. This will delay the launch date to no earlier than Friday, Dec. 24. We will provide more information about the new launch date no later than Friday, Dec. 17.”
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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