NASA: James Webb Space Telescope on track

NASA: James Webb Space Telescope on track

US Space Agency NASA has revealed that they are on track with the development of the James Webb Space Telescope.

NASA is aiming to launch the telescope to the space in June 2013. Edward Weiler, head of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center said in a statement that despite facing cost overruns, the project has managed to meet every technical, cost and schedule milestone for the past 20 months.

NASA had previously delayed the launch from 2011 to 2013.

The James Webb Space Telescope would be established to orbit nearly a million miles from Earth. The aim is to let the scientists look further into the universe than ever before.

Martin Mohan, Northrop Grumman’s program manager added: “We’re making excellent progress in meeting all of our plans and commitments for a mid-2013 launch.”

This underdevelopment telescope would be more powerful and capable than the NASA’s existing Hubble Telescope.

NASA added that the Webb will not be as serviceable by astronauts as the Hubble. However, they have designed it in such a way that a future spacecraft can dock with it to try to correct simple problems.