NASA delays launch of the world’s most powerful space telescope, again

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has experienced another delay. The telescope

will now launch between March and June of 2019, instead of the previously planned launch of October 2018. The space agency made the announcement after a new scheduled assessment, noting that the delay was due to the component integration and testing taking longer than expected. The delay is at least partly due to the size and complexity of the Webb spacecraft and sunshield, the agency said. “The installation of more than 100 sunshield membrane release devices, factoring in lessons learned from earlier testing, like longer time spans for vibration testing, has meant the integration and testing process is just taking longer,” said Eric Smith, program director for the James Webb Space Telescope.                                                                                     https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/29/16383162/james-webb-space-telescope-launch-date