Comments on: James Webb Space Telescope

By: Magoonski

Magoonski — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:49:43 +0000

Apparentally, only our legislatures are supposed to talk to the committee. Of course, that makes no sense considering the interest of science transcends all borders state and international alike. Besides I doubt my legislaters would even get enough calls about this to warrant their attention in time.

By: Magoonski

Magoonski — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:53:17 +0000

Hey everyone don’t just contact your own congress members, contact the House Appropriations Commitee as well.

http://appropriations.house.gov/About/Members/

http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/Subcommittee/?IssueID=34794

By: Darn you, James Webb (space telescope)! « Discussing Reality

Darn you, James Webb (space telescope)! « Discussing Reality — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 04:40:29 +0000

[...] over budget and would be canceled as a part of a $1.6 billion budget cut. As it turns out, JWST is “billions of dollars over budget and plagued by poor management.” Given our current economy, I get it. Any project that is billions of dollars over budget and [...]

By: » Milky Way and Creation’s Tree of Life cameo Question Marks

» Milky Way and Creation’s Tree of Life cameo Question Marks — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:46:03 +0000

[...] could go on a rant about how NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is losing its funding, but instead I’d just like to muse briefly on the universe. Look, look at this image of a [...]

By: » Milky Way and Creation’s Tree of Life cameo Question Marks

» Milky Way and Creation’s Tree of Life cameo Question Marks — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:40:35 +0000

[...] could go on a rant about how NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is losing its funding, but instead I’d just like to muse briefly on the universe. Look, look at this image of a [...]

By: Torbjörn Larsson, OM

Torbjörn Larsson, OM — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 20:36:08 +0000

It is bad; I like cosmology and astrobiology both.

However I like the description of “teething problems” as it injects perspective and hope.

Killing JWST now also substantially threatens US credibility as an international partner, and sends the message that the US is just not interested in scientific leadership in major projects.

I don’t get this, how should it be unpacked?

Is the 2nd part supposed to imply the 1st? But it wouldn’t work that way, since the measure of an international partner is how interested, large and robust they are regards partnership. JWST is, perhaps unfortunately, not such an effort.

Not being privy to the workings of the astronomical society, a humbled US should naively be seen as a potential future partner, as it can’t go at it alone anymore.

By: TedL

TedL — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:22:11 +0000

That riduculous video blog excerpt killed any remaining desire I have that continued funding for the JWST is approved.

Does anyone know — What is the probability that the JWST will reach orbit and malfunction such that it is worthless? There must have been a fault analysis and I’m curious as to what the failure risk is.

By: Last shuttle has launched ...

Last shuttle has launched ... — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:51:29 +0000

[...] Earth orbit. .. It's looking like the Hubble telescope replacement, the James Webb telescope, may be for the chop too. A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well. OwlHoot is hereby [...]

By: Mr. G

Mr. G — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:56:54 +0000

Dear Senator/Representative,

Please apply my enclosed check to the JWST. I’, encouraging all my family, friends and co-workers send send their own checks.

Together, we can get this done.

Thank you.

Sincerely;

Putting My Own Money Where There Isn’t Enough of Everyone Else’s. Because it’s that Important!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:29:53 +0000

The link is just mistyped, it is this: http://www.contactingthecongress.org/

and I just wrote to all four of my congresspeople. I agree with the statement on their priorities, but supporting science does affect their re-election chances, at least with me.

Cheers to the CV bloggers for bringing it to our attention.

By: Low Math, Meekly Interacting

Low Math, Meekly Interacting — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:09:07 +0000

Letters to Senators and my Rep. are en route.

By: Marty

Marty — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:40:30 +0000

The link for contacting congressional representatives seems to be broken…

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:19:16 +0000

Politicians are corrupt and greedy and will only listen to people who fund their campaigns. They do not care about science or the future of America. They care about money and getting re-elected. The JWST accomplishes neither.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:45:15 +0000

Not knowing anything about this, but being an advocate of science, it seems to me that IF this bill scuttling this project is not passed, something needs to change in the project. I understand that these projects are cutting edge – but the extent of cost overruns is simply not excusable.
Inon – I used to work for a defence contractor, and am (sadly) familiar with fixed price contracts. The 2 huge problems with these is that 1) we get politicians trying to steer business to their constituent state, and 2) contracts are intentionally low-balled in order to win them, with the implicit understanding that once you are years into it, it is cost prohibitive to switch.

By: James Webb Space Telescope in danger of cancellation « Ted Bunn’s Blog

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 17:41:36 +0000

[...] prospect of the James Webb Space Telescope being canceled. If you want to pick just one to read, this one‘s pretty [...]

By: Inon

Inon — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:42:19 +0000

Over the last 10 years everything (space satellites) has been transitioning from cash cow to fixed price contracts. Management and flexibility are the first things to suffer on fixed price contracts. Eventually the aerospace community will adjust and think more commercially and efficiently.

By: Anon

Anon — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:16:10 +0000

Sorry, but JWST has eaten up everything! for example, because of it the US is not longer part of LISA, or almost anything else for that matter… No doubts the works of JWST will be fantastic, but you cannot poorly manage a project, destroy all other ideas, and then expect to claim victory without a scratch… it’s just wrong…

By: Tony Verow MD

Tony Verow MD — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:12:12 +0000

If this goes through, it would be a staggering loss for America. It also would confirm for me that this country is headed down the road to irreversible decline. The money being discussed is a pittance in the federal budget, but would permanently axe the careers of many academics, graduate students, etc. Compare and contrast the $$$ that this would save with the trillion (yes, trillion) dollars that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost the US taxapyer to date.

I remember when Hubble was going through similar teething problems in the early 80′s. At the time there were similar attempts to kill it….what a disaster that would have been !