NASA targets 2021 Halloween for James Webb telescope launch after delay due to COVID-19

National Aeronautics ncy (NASA) on July 16 anunced a new launch date for James Webb Telescope due to impacts from ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as technical challenges. According to NASA, ncy is w targeting October 31, 2021, as new date for launch, which was earlier scheduled for March next year. launch of James Webb Telescope will take place from French Guiana, which is situated on rast coast of South America. 

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" perseverance and invation of entire Webb Telescope team have enabled us to work through challenging situations we could t have foreseen on our path to launch this unprecedented mission. Webb is world’s most complex observatory and our top science priority, and we’ve worked hard to keep progress moving during pandemic. team continues to be focused on reaching milestones and arriving at technical solutions that will see us through to this new launch date next year," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at ncy’s headquarters in Washington. 

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NASA had earlier planned to assess progress of project in April after schedule margins grew tighter last fall. However, ncy had to postpone assessment in April due to pandemic and was only completed this week. factors contributing to decision to move launch date include impacts of augmented safety precautions, reduced on-site personnel, disruption to shift work, and or technical challenges. Webb will use existing program funding to stay within its $8.8 billion development cost cap.

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Webb telescope

"On its journey to , Webb will be first mission to complete an intricate and technically-challenging series of deployments – a critical part of Webb’s journey to its orbit about one million miles from Earth. Once in orbit, Webb will unfold its delicate five-layered sunshield until it reaches size of a tennis court. Webb will n deploy its iconic 6.5-meter primary mirror that will detect faint light of far-away stars and galaxies," as per NASA. Webb is an international program led by NASA, in partnership with ESA (European ncy) and Canadian ncy.

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(Im Credit: NASA/Website)