NASA Launches James Webb Space Telescope

[Peter_Brosdahl]

Image: NASA/Bill Ingalls



After years of delays and complications, NASA launched the James Webb Space telescope Christmas morning in collaboration with the ESA (European Space Agency) and Canadian Space Agency. It was supposed to launch in 2007 but faced challenges ahead of Saturday’s monumental achievement.



The JSWT has been beset by delays throughout its long history. NASA initially hoped to launch it in 2007, but spiraling costs prompted engineers to re-think the telescope in 2005. The JSWT was then declared ready in 2016, but the project was once again put on hold because of construction complications. The telescope was assembled in 2019, but then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, leading to delays to testing and shipping.









NASA’s press release:



The James Webb Space Telescope represents the ambition that NASA and our partners maintain to propel us...

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[LeRoy_Blanchard]

I wish we would build an optical telescope on the far-side of the moon.


...and I'd like access to point it where I want.