Webb Telescope Cost-Control Effort Focuses On Schedule, Requirements

摘要

Nasa officials, scrambling to head off a looming budget crisis on the James Webb Space Telescope, are considering easing up on requirements for a number of program elements including schedule, test procedures and the polishing, specifications of the observatory's main mirror. The idea is to contain a $1.1 billion cost overrun without compromising the program's scientific objectives. NASA officials are hopeful, but concede that they are not sure yet whether the proposed strategy would offset the entire overrun on the flagship-class astronomy mission, which was supposed to cost $3.5 billion. "Perfect would be to get right back into the box, but we'll have to see what they can do," said astronomer Eric Smith, the Webb program scientist at NASA headquarters in Washington, referring to the Webb program management staff at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The program managers will receive a revised set of Webb science priorities from a new Science Assessment Team for the program that began its work in June.