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Hubble Replacement on Slow Track

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the money-makes-the-world-go-round dept.

iamlucky13 writes "The targeted launch date for the James Webb Space Telescope, an infrared space observatory currently nearing the completion of the design stage, has been pushed back 2 years to help deal with a price tag that has grown to $4.5 billion. This advanced telescope is designed to build upon the achievements of the Hubble after its retirement, peering into deep space with it's large 6.5 meter primary mirror from the L2 point 1.5 million kilometers from earth. As the highest priority science mission on NASA's agenda, a decision was made to spread the extra cost over additional budget cycles rather than compromise it's instrument package. Regardless, some of the lower priority missions may feel the impact of the JWST cost growth."

16 of 153 comments (clear)

  1. Re:energy is liberated through blasphemy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hey, man, it's just a telescope. It haven't done you no harm.
    I think your a tad out of line there, taking i to so personal.
    Or maybe you're on a competing project?

  2. $4.5 billion by pubjames · · Score: 5, Funny


    $4.5 billion? That's far too expensive. I mean, we could keep our troups in Iraq for almost another month for that kind of money! What are they thinking, wasting it on a stupid big telescope.

    1. Re:$4.5 billion by meringuoid · · Score: 5, Funny
      I mean, we could keep our troups in Iraq for almost another month for that kind of money! What are they thinking, wasting it on a stupid big telescope.

      Remember, kids: if you buy telescopes, then the terrorists win!

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    2. Re:$4.5 billion by kellar · · Score: 1, Funny

      what about switching development to texas, and then making sony pay for it as some sort of community-service thing? if it didn't work, they could even $sys$ it in the desert somewhere.

      --
      k e l l a r
    3. Re:$4.5 billion by meringuoid · · Score: 1, Funny
      The day when we spend more money on killing rather than on science is the day when Dubya has established his stamp for eternity.

      Did you miss the memo? America turned to the Dark Side long ago, when they cancelled Apollo to pay for Vietnam.

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    4. Re:$4.5 billion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      With that sense of humor, I hope you refund time.

    5. Re:$4.5 billion by meringuoid · · Score: 4, Funny

      Please, don't even think that. If Bush dies, Cheney becomes president.

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    6. Re:$4.5 billion by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 2, Funny

      If you outlaw telescopes, then only terrorists will have them.

      --
      liqbase :: faster than paper
    7. Re:$4.5 billion by pubjames · · Score: 5, Funny

      Remember kids, evil terrorists are everywhere. They're watching you now. They want you dead, because they are jealous of your American freedoms. If you're not afraid, you should be.

      Remember, President Bush has been chosen by God to protect you. True Americans don't doubt their President, as that doubt would give strength to the terrorists hidden amongst us. All hail President Bush!

    8. Re:$4.5 billion by Abuzar · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yes, I vote for bigger telescopes. We can't have those terrorists running around with telescopes bigger than ours.

    9. Re:$4.5 billion by wisdom_brewing · · Score: 3, Funny

      what do you mean "becomes"?

      --
      I am very sucseptible to "let's have another drink"
    10. Re:$4.5 billion by igb · · Score: 2, Funny
      Why spend $4.5billion of something which will either confirm what the bible says, and therefore be superfluous, or contradict what the bible says, and therefore be heretical?

      ian

    11. Re:$4.5 billion by PakProtector · · Score: 2, Funny

      They're beheading the Buddhist monks for a simple reason. The longer it takes for something to get angry, the more fearsome its anger will be.

      It takes a Buddhist Monk a long time to get angry.

      Therefore, there is nothing more frightening than an Angry Buddhist Monk.

      That's why they're killing them off first. Have you noticed the survivors still aren't angry yet?

      Hoo, boy, that's gonna be some massive retaliation.

      --

      Edward@Tomato - /home/Edward/ man woman
      man: no entry for woman in the manual.
      "Qua!?"

  3. Money Well Spent!! by mgjames · · Score: 3, Funny

    Judging by the latest sneak peek photo from NASA, it looks like money well spent.

  4. If space is curved ... by LaughingCoder · · Score: 1, Funny

    and we look out far enough, will we see ourselves?

    --
    The more you regulate a company, the worse its products become.
  5. From what I've heard... by Anita+Coney · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Right will only support funding for the new Hubble if it's used to find proof of the firmament. And of course the Left will only support it if it's used to find voters. Essentially, it's a huge quagmire.

    But hopefully the issues can be solved so scientist can use it to search for what remains of freedom in the US.

    --
    If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.