In 2018 NASA will be replacing the Hubble Telescope with the much more modern James Webb Space Telescope. The scheduled launch in 2018 appears to be on schedule, according to NBC News, and no doubt this new chapter in space exploration will prove to be very rewarding.
The James Webb Space Telescope project is an $8.8 billion dollar expenditure. Scientists hope to be able to discover more about the universe with this modern technological giant.
Space.com reports that the project is on track, but that the testing phase is still ahead. It's usually during this phase that schedules tend to fall behind. Christina Chaplain of the United States Government Accountability Office said, "The JWST project continues to report that it remains on schedule and budget with its overall schedule reserve currently above its plan." She went on to add, However, the project is now entering a difficult phase of development - integration and testing - which is expected to take another 3.5 years to complete."
The United States has had one of the most advanced space programs in the world, and has worked on many international projects, such as the International Space Station. John Mather is one of the scientists working on the project, as well as being a Nobel Prize Winner. He says, "We are an exceptional country for even dreaming up something like Webb, and we are close to seeing this dream realized."
The telescope will be able to beam back amazing images of the universe around it. Scientists still have much to learn about the universe and how it works. They hope that the telescope may be able to help them learn more about the origins of the universe.
The telescope will be placed about 932,000 miles from Earth, and will be loaded with all kinds of scientific equipment. It is equipped with a sun shield the size of a tennis court which will help keep the instruments cool enough to perform their operations. With the extremely advanced equipment on the telescope scientist hope to gather knowledge that has never been attainable before, including the possibility of locating planets with other life forms on them.
The James Webb Space Telescope project has been notorious for scheduling delays and for costing more than expected. However, John Grunsfield of NASA said, "This next great space observatory, and indeed the world's most powerful planned space telescope, remains within budget and on track to meet its October 2018 launch readiness date."