Recap: NASA's nearly circuitous space observatory to appointment is also unfortunately one of the bureau's most hamstrung projects. Work on the successor to the Hubble Infinite Telescope officially started way back in 1996, some six years after Hubble was launched into low globe orbit. A litany of delays and price overruns ensued, pushing the project well beyond its initial 2007 launch appointment and sub-$ane billion budget.

NASA has set a new target launch date of December xviii, 2022, for the James Webb Infinite Telescope after information technology recently completed final testing late last month. Hither's to hoping the date actually sticks this time.

By the time it launches at the stop of the year (bold that really happens), most $x billion volition accept been sunk into the mission.

When it does finally achieve its destination in space, the James Webb Space Telescope promises to offer an unprecedented look at the universe that'll aid us ameliorate sympathise its origins and our place in it. The infrared telescope features a 6.5-meter primary mirror comprised of 18 separate segments that will unfold once in space.

NASA plans to put the telescope into a halo orbit roughly 930,000 miles from Globe where it'll be able to operate at the extremely low temperatures required by its instruments.

The Webb telescope is currently existence stored at Northrop Grumman's facilities in Redondo Beach, California, only will soon be shipped off to Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana where information technology'll hitch a ride to space via an Ariane 5 rocket.