sci18002 — Announcement
James Webb: It’s worth the wait!
12 July 2018: As you are undoubtedly aware, NASA has recently announced, that the launch of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has been delayed until 30 March 2021. Admittedly, one’s first, emotional, reaction is a sense of frustration, in particular for those scientists who prepared their applications for observing time with James Webb months ago. After all, we are all eager to exploit this fantastic, transformational telescope, and we would like to have it in operation as soon as possible. As scientists, however, we must be rational and overcome our emotions. Those of us who are old enough to have participated, with enthusiasm but also with anguish, in the incredibly successful and eventful life of Hubble are fully aware of how critical each detail, however small, can be for a telescope in orbit. During its 28 years (and counting) of operation Hubble has overcome several dreadful, potentially mission-ending problems; and yet, every …