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NASA Nudges James Webb Telescope Launch Date After 'Sudden, Unplanned' Vibration Incident

posted by janrinok on Tuesday November 23 2021, @07:55PM   Printer-friendly
from the burp dept.

upstart writes:

NASA nudges James Webb telescope launch date after 'sudden, unplanned' vibration incident:

The James Webb Space Telescope is a very big, very overdue and very sensitive project. After years of delays, it was supposed to launch on Dec. 18 and become the newest flagship observatory. The launch has now been moved to no earlier than Dec. 22 after an incident during launch preparations.

The telescope is in the process of getting together with the Ariane 5 rocket that will escort it into space. "A sudden, unplanned release of a clamp band — which secures Webb to the launch vehicle adapter — caused a vibration throughout the observatory," NASA said in a statement Monday.

[...] NASA expects to deliver an update on the telescope's condition at the end of the week.

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  • (Score: 2) by takyon on Wednesday November 24 2021, @05:22AM (2 children)

    by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Wednesday November 24 2021, @05:22AM (#1199161) Journal

    NASA: Do it right. I want to see what this JWST can do as much as anyone else, but have experienced haste makes waste all too many times. I know you are doing things no one has ever done before. Measure twice, and again , then cut.

    This is the exact attitude that led to the budget ballooning and nearly 15 years of delays. NASA needs to change the way they handle space telescopes. Make them assembly line style, launch them on Starships. If they want a bigger one, make it modular and assemble it in orbit or at a space station.

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  • (Score: 2) by PiMuNu on Wednesday November 24 2021, @09:52AM (1 child)

    by PiMuNu (3823) on Wednesday November 24 2021, @09:52AM (#1199192)

    I have seen many projects rushed to meet a deadline. They always end up costing more, and running later. Do it right, take the time.

    • (Score: 4, Insightful) by takyon on Wednesday November 24 2021, @10:16AM

      by takyon (881) <takyonNO@SPAMsoylentnews.org> on Wednesday November 24 2021, @10:16AM (#1199193) Journal

      JWST is Too Big To Fail™ so it must be retested repeatedly at any expense.

      NASA should build space telescopes in such a way that they can afford to have an entire one fail, or to have a segment fail. Or have a JWST-like unfolding telescope with lots of mechanical failure points checked at the ISS before being boosted to its final destination at L2 where it would supposedly be inaccessible for repairs.

      The telescope that ate astronomy [nature.com]

      It seems like the same mistakes will be repeated for the unambitious scaled down version of LUVOIR, because why bother learning? The contractors will still get paid.

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