NASA postpones launch of James Webb space telescope until March 30, 2021
The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope has been postponed for the second time. The new launch date has been set by the American space agency NASA for March 30, 2021. The postponement is due to technical problems.
NASA announces the new launch date in the conclusion on a report previously released by independent researchers. That report in May found that there are technical issues with screws and washers coming loose. Initially, Greg Robinson, who is in charge of the James Webb project, thought that this would not cause any further delay, but it now appears to be the case.
According to the report, the problems are largely caused by the work of Northrop Grumman, the company that builds the spacecraft and solar shield. Among other things, a solvent has been used when cleaning washers, without checking with the manufacturer whether it is suitable. This damaged the rings and had to be replaced.
The screws that came loose during a test were due to the fact that they were not tightened enough. More than a dozen screws exploded and ended up in the spacecraft. Two screws have not yet been found.
It was previously planned to launch the James Webb telescope in 2019. That was postponed to May 2020 at the beginning of this year, because more time was needed to conduct tests. The new delay also means additional costs. NASA is adjusting the required budget to $8.8 billion, ten percent higher than the $8 billion budget set in 2011 at the original schedule.
An Ariane 5 rocket from the European Space Agency is to launch the James Webb telescope into orbit around the sun, at a distance of 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. The space telescope can stay out of the shadows of the Earth and Moon here. A large solar shield blocks light and heat from the sun, Earth and moon, allowing infrared light from distant objects to be seen. The telescope must be very cold to be able to pick up the weak infrared light. Because of the shield, the temperature at the front of the telescope is 85 degrees Celsius, while that at the back, where the telescope is located, is -233 degrees.