James Webb Space Telescope Cost Overruns Adding Up

digitaldc writes "The scale of the delay and cost overrun blighting NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been laid bare by a panel called in to review the project. The group believes the final budget for Hubble's successor is likely to climb to at least $6.5bn, for a launch that is possible in September 2015. But even this assessment is optimistic (PDF), say the panel members. Estimates for JWST's total cost to build, launch and operate have steadily increased over the years from $3.5bn to $5bn. Along with the cost growth, the schedule has also eroded. The most recent projected launch of 2014 has looked under pressure for some time. Charles Bolden has ordered a reorganization of the project and has changed the management at its top. Whereas Hubble sees the Universe mostly in visible light, JWST will observe the cosmos at longer wavelengths, in the infrared. It will see deeper into space and further back in time, to the very first population of stars."

But but but

[Anonymous Coward]

we need more pictures of the sky!

Re:Big Science in the US

[Anonymous Coward]

Your plan is ridiculous. How are we supposed to redirect pork to the most important districts every 2 years if there's some kind of "stable funding structure"? It's like you don't even understand the point of the US government.