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Hubble Replacement on Slow Track
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."
So we should have let Saddam continue his mass murder and rape? Quite a position. Of course it gets you modded up, but still..
This is what happens when a handful of tenured scientists and engineers trying to manage a huge project to support a hundred of their favorite people carried over from other projects.
We must ask them for what they have spent $4.5B. I would not be a least bit surprised that the large portion of it went down to pay the salary for support staffs (*) to continue on science projects, not directly to the R&D for the telescope and its instruments. Come on, from the last I heard, they don't have any flight modules being built yet! This is simply outrageous.
(*) To be fair, for each and every space mission, the largest portion of the expense always goes to the labor fee. The more you need to support, the greater the expenditure you must pay. The good thing is that, even if the mission is lost, the money would be well spent since the experience remains with the trained, supported staff in R&D...but here is the thing; I'm not certain that how much of $4.5B is being used to do pure R&D for next generation instrumentation. I hope they are not spending to cover "JWST scientists" to continue on their science with other ad-hoc instruments.
I just watched "ST Nemesis" yesterday on DVD.
My Suck-Alarm was ringing, but I ignored it. Woe is me.
So I think NASA should re-imburse me for the movie rental. They obviously have the disposable cash, and aren't they supposed to help make space travel look appealing? Sheesh.
-FL
WTF? More leftist lies? How about you people try looking FORWARD instead of showing off your hind-sight and making up stupid crap like this. I can't believe someone modded you insightful.
Remember kids, evil terrorists are everywhere.
Yes this part is fairly accurate if you mean in most countries.
They're watching you now.
Haha...I hope you aren't that paranoid.
They want you dead, because they are jealous of your American freedoms.
Absolutely false and something the left keeps repeating. It's called radical Muslim and every free country (not just the US) opposes their 2,000 year old way of life. Simply allowing women to vote and show her face is repulsive to them.
Remember, President Bush has been chosen by God to protect you.
You're obviously Christian bashing here. Nobody claims this but the atheists or leftists.
True Americans don't doubt their President, as that doubt would give strength to the terrorists hidden amongst us. All hail President Bush!
I'm only replying because this flame-bait got modded up to where it showed up on my screen. People need to start modding these flamers down. And BTW, I'm not off-topic. He started a new topic in this Score:2,Insightful thread.
You misquoted or misunderstood. It's about supporting our troops overseas and not treating them like post-war Vietnam. Telling these people (in front of the whole world) that what they are doing is wrong while they're over there risking death is in very bad taste. Think forward and don't rely on hind-sight so much. What would you do (other than just Bush-bash like you are now)?
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one the bus load of girls just went down.