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takyon [soylentnews.org] writes:

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is warning of possible further delays [usatoday.com] to the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope [wikipedia.org] (JWST):

A government watchdog is warning that the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST [nasa.gov]), the long-awaited successor to the Hubble that's been beset by schedule snafus and cost overruns, might face further delays. NASA announced [nasa.gov] in September it had pushed back the launch date of the JWST from late 2018 to some time in the spring of 2019 due to testing delays partly blamed on Hurricane Harvey's impact on Texas' Gulf Coast in August.

On Wednesday, lawmakers on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee were told [house.gov] it could take even longer to launch the world's most powerful telescope. "More delays are possible given the risks associated with the work ahead and the level of schedule reserves that are now (below) what's recommended," said Cristina Chaplain, director of Acquisition and Sourcing Management for the Government Accountability Office.

[...] Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's associate administrator for science missions, told lawmakers he expects the space agency will be able to meet the spring 2019 schedule. "I believe it's achievable," he said.

Previously: James Webb Space Telescope Vibration Testing Completed [soylentnews.org]
Launch of James Webb Space Telescope Delayed to Spring 2019 [soylentnews.org]

Related: Maiden Flight of the Space Launch System Delayed to 2019 [soylentnews.org]
NASA Unlikely to Have Enough Plutonium-238 for Missions by the Mid-2020s [soylentnews.org]
WFIRST Space Observatory Could be Scaled Back Due to Costs [soylentnews.org]

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