James Webb Space Telescope Delayed to March 2021, Breaches Cost Cap

In its report, the IRB found that technical issues, including human errors, have greatly impacted the development schedule.

The agency previously had estimated an earlier launch date, but awaited findings from the IRB before making a final determination and considered data from Webb’s Standing Review Board. The agency established the new launch date estimate to accommodate changes in the schedule due to environmental testing and work performance challenges by Northrop Grumman on the spacecraft’s sunshield and propulsion system. The telescope’s new total lifecycle cost, to support the revised launch date, is estimated at $9.66 billion; its new development cost estimate is $8.8 billion.

Yowza. They’ll need to get an additional $800 million approved by Congress, and the launch is now set for about a year from the estimated retirement date of Ariane 5.

And also, the March, 2021 date doesn’t account for any additional integration and testing issues that may arise.

I’m willing to bet that the James Webb Space Telescope will fly on the final Ariane 5 flight.