NASA Chief on Tardy JWST Sensors: 'News to Me'

摘要

During a House Science space subcommittee hearing April 23 that largely focused on NASA's asteroid mission plans, funding for the Space Launch System and Orion, commercial crew, and changes to NASA's education program, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden also was asked about a program that has faded from view recently: the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).rnPressed by full committee Chairman Rep. Laniar Smith (R-Texas) about reports of delays with JWST instruments, Bolden commented, "That's news to me."rnSmith was referring to a report released April 17 by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) assessing the state of various major NASA programs. "JWST is currently experiencing technical issues on the spacecraft and integrated science instrument module (ISIM) that have impacted the test schedule," the report states. "[O]nly two instruments have been delivered for integration with ISIM and the other two instruments will be delivered at least 11 months late."