As many of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) centers have shifted to the obligatory telework to battle the widespread CO VID-19, the management of NASA recognized that the "award-winning science jobs" may be affected by delays and that the agency was ready to barter to keep its employees safe. One of the affected missions is the James Webb Space Telescope, where the work is currently put on hold. This was announced by NASA officials on Friday.
Questions about the response of NASA to the COVID-19 pandemic ruled during an event dubbed, the Science Mission Directorate, held on Friday. The said event was set to let Thomas Zurbuchen, the Associate Administrator, and the other leaders of the division to summarize and answer questions about the request for the budget of President Donald Trump for the "2021 financial year, to start on October 1. But because of the pandemic, the topic on the budget was just put on second place on the program.
The Elephant Principle
In relation to the event, Zurbuchen said, what they're going to do in that particular call is to use what they call "the elephant principle." This means, he explained, if there is an elephant in the room, they're going to talk about it. And, in that particular affair, the official said, they were to talk about the COVID-19 activities and the manner it is affecting them in science. In addition, he also said, "as they always do in a day, they would return to operations."
Zurbuchen also noted that various types of activities would be impacted differently by the so-called telework guidelines. Some undertakings, he said, such as developing the requirements the missions need to meet to succeed, "is straightforward to do remotely." However, building a spacecraft is not.
He also noted that the science flights which are aircraft-based, have already been delayed indefinitely even though he put emphasis on the flights not canceled, and would be set for another schedule once the pandemic gets more contained.
Incidentally, even the most valued missions of NASA said Zurbuchen, which are presently being developed could show serious effects form COVID-19 control measures. Relatively, a lot of people have also asked about the work on James Webb, NASA's reportedly much-delayed and over-budget huge space telescope project.
The said spacecraft is presently scheduled for launch in March 2021, even though, a report in January from the Government Accountability Office indicated that the work had only a 12-percent chance of meeting the said timeline even if there is no pandemic.
James Webb Project Paused
Just a few hours after the town hall event, NASA announced it was pausing the James Webb space telescope, "at least, for the time being." Currently, the instrument is in California, from which, the governor instituted obligatory limitations, keeping the resident in their respective homes for the predictable future
The instrument is currently in California, where the governor established mandatory restrictions keeping his residents in their respective homes for the foreseeable future, but the necessary errands. Meanwhile, the control measures COVID-19 can interfere with the next Mars mission of NASA, as well, scheduled for launch in July. More so, the July launch also comprises of an experimental helicopter and the Perseverance rover.
