By 
December 15th, 2014
August 2013 artist’s impression of James Webb Space Telescope.
Credit: Northrop Grumman
A new study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has taken a look at the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) project.
JWST is one of NASA’s most complex and expensive projects, at an anticipated cost of $8.8 billion.
The GAO has found that with just less than 4 years until its planned launch in October 2018, the JWST project reports the effort remains on schedule and budget.
However, the GAO reports, technical challenges with JWST elements and major subsystems have diminished the project’s overall schedule reserve and increased risk.
During the past year, the GAO reports that delays have occurred on every element and major subsystem schedule — especially with the cryocooler — leaving all at risk of negatively impacting the overall project schedule reserve if further delays occur.
The cryocooler chills an infrared light detector on one of JWST’s four scientific instruments.
The GAO report assesses, among other issues, the extent to which (1) technical challenges are impacting the JWST project’s ability to stay on schedule and budget, and (2) budget and cost estimates reflect current information about project risks.
For your own review of the report, go to:
James Webb Space Telescope: Project Facing Increased Schedule Risk with Significant Work Remaining. GAO-15-100, December 15.
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-15-100
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/667527.pdf
Posted in Space News
