Corrections made to keep James Webb telescope on track
Shortly after NASA announced the James Webb Space Telescope would be delayed another year and cost an extra billion dollars, contractor Northrop Grumman said it has learned from “recent challenges” and will work to keep the project on track.
“Northrop Grumman is proud of our many accomplishments on the program, but we recognize that issues we have encountered have impacted the program,” spokesman Tim Paynter said in a statement, adding the company has “implemented the necessary corrective actions.”
The space agency announced Wednesday that the telescope — already more than a decade behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget — would be delayed another year to 2021 and cost almost $9 billion to develop.
The announcement followed a review of the project by a 10member board, which laid out 32 recommendations to keep the telescope on track. Those recommendations include proper training of employees, improved risk assessment and creation of a managerial position to oversee system deployments once in space.
James Webb, the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, is meant to revolutionize the world’s understanding of planet and star formation. Initially expected to launch in 2007, it has faced repeated delays and burgeoning costs.
Wednesday’s announced delay pushes development costs past the $8 billion cap set by Congress in 2011, which means congressional leaders must reauthorize the project in the agency’s 2019 fiscal year budget.
U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, RSan Antonio, and chairman of the Science Space and Technology Committee, said Wednesday that his panel will hold a hearing next month to discuss the review board’s report.
Many of the delays outlined in the review board’s report were the result of human errors and other technical issues that can be traced to Northrop Grumman, which has been prime contractor on the project since 2002.
For example, during a test last month the contractor lost numerous screws and washers holding the telescope’s sun shield in place. Four fasteners are missing and it’s costing the federal government $1 million per day in delayed work.
On Wednesday, Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said the space agency takes responsibility for the problems as well.
“Make no mistake, I’m not happy about it,” Zurbuchen said. But “we’re part of this team that has created the problem we’re in.”
Officials said they believe the March 2021 launch date is feasible if NASA and Northrop Grumman follow the recommendations laid out, many of which the space agency says it has implemented.
Northrop Grumman is “aggressively addressing process and schedule, but we will not sacrifice quality for schedule,” Paynter said. “Mission success is our No. 1 priority.”