James Webb Space Telescope

[Dalhousie]

Covers removed and ready to start the testing prior to launch in 018.  The one aspect that disappoints me is the launch by ESA.

Why? I think it is great.

[bknight]

Covers removed and ready to start the testing prior to launch in 018.  The one aspect that disappoints me is the launch by ESA.

Why? I think it is great.

IMO it would be better if it were launched by NASA, that's all.  I believe the telescope will be of great benefit as Hubble though.

[Dalhousie]

Covers removed and ready to start the testing prior to launch in 018.  The one aspect that disappoints me is the launch by ESA.

Why? I think it is great.

IMO it would be better if it were launched by NASA, that's all.  I believe the telescope will be of great benefit as Hubble though.

Why would it be better?

[bknight]

Covers removed and ready to start the testing prior to launch in 018.  The one aspect that disappoints me is the launch by ESA.

Why? I think it is great.

IMO it would be better if it were launched by NASA, that's all.  I believe the telescope will be of great benefit as Hubble though.

Why would it be better?

Not being dependent on another nation for our space business, much like being dependent on Russia for RD-180's.

[molesworth]

Covers removed and ready to start the testing prior to launch in 018.  The one aspect that disappoints me is the launch by ESA.

Why? I think it is great.

IMO it would be better if it were launched by NASA, that's all.  I believe the telescope will be of great benefit as Hubble though.

Why would it be better?

Not being dependent on another nation for our space business, much like being dependent on Russia for RD-180's.

Well, I can understand there's an element of national pride involved, but wouldn't it be a better approach for all countries and agencies to cooperate and share technologies and facilities.  There may be cost and efficiency advantages to be gained overall, in the long term.

[bknight]

Well, I can understand there's an element of national pride involved, but wouldn't it be a better approach for all countries and agencies to cooperate and share technologies and facilities.  There may be cost and efficiency advantages to be gained overall, in the long term.

In this case it is not pride, but rather not being dependent on another country for launches.  Of course it can be beneficial for all countries to work in harmony, but that isn't the issue in my thoughts.

[Dalhousie]

Well, I can understand there's an element of national pride involved, but wouldn't it be a better approach for all countries and agencies to cooperate and share technologies and facilities.  There may be cost and efficiency advantages to be gained overall, in the long term.

In this case it is not pride, but rather not being dependent on another country for launches.  Of course it can be beneficial for all countries to work in harmony, but that isn't the issue in my thoughts.

What bit of "collaboration" is hard to understand?

[bknight]

Well, I can understand there's an element of national pride involved, but wouldn't it be a better approach for all countries and agencies to cooperate and share technologies and facilities.  There may be cost and efficiency advantages to be gained overall, in the long term.

In this case it is not pride, but rather not being dependent on another country for launches.  Of course it can be beneficial for all countries to work in harmony, but that isn't the issue in my thoughts.

What bit of "collaboration" is hard to understand?

In a word, none.

[Dalhousie]

So why object?  You do realise that the JWS is not an exclusively NASA project?  That ESA (and others) are involved as well?  That part of ESA's contribution is supply a launcher?

[bknight]

Lets put the other shoe in the loop, how many non US satellites are launched by US rockets?  If there are no US rockets large enough to lift the JWST into orbit, I wonder why?  If there are why not use them?  Is putting a 5+Billion dollar investment into hands that we don't control the best use of funds?

[Dalhousie]

Lets put the other shoe in the loop, how many non US satellites are launched by US rockets?  If there are no US rockets large enough to lift the JWST into orbit, I wonder why?  If there are why not use them?  Is putting a 5+Billion dollar investment into hands that we don't control the best use of funds?

Why shouldn't an international mission be launched by a non-US rocket as part of the international contribution? 

[bknight]

Why shouldn't an international mission be launched by a non-US rocket as part of the international contribution?

An international project? when the only part of the project come from ESA Euros, Canadian Space Agency 39 M and the US 4.5-6 B?
This discussion is pointless as you don't understand my misgivings nor can I impart those feelings.

[Dalhousie]

Why shouldn't an international mission be launched by a non-US rocket as part of the international contribution?

An international project? when the only part of the project come from ESA Euros, Canadian Space Agency 39 M and the US 4.5-6 B?
This discussion is pointless as you don't understand my misgivings nor can I impart those feelings.

ESA's contribution is described by NASA as "significant".  ESA is providing a launcher and all supporting services, one instrument, and equal contributor to a second.  Canada is supplying another instrument.  This makes it an international mission led by NASA.

[Zakalwe]

Not being dependent on another nation for our space business, much like being dependent on Russia for RD-180's.

I think that you are confusing a number of issues. The US was dependant on other countries for certain launches following the Shuttle retirement. However, JWST is an international collaboration involving 17 countries. It is NOT a pure NASA project that is having to rely on another country lifting it into space. The concept was designed from the start as an international collaboration.

[bknight]

Not being dependent on another nation for our space business, much like being dependent on Russia for RD-180's.

I think that you are confusing a number of issues. The US was dependant on other countries for certain launches following the Shuttle retirement. However, JWST is an international collaboration involving 17 countries. It is NOT a pure NASA project that is having to rely on another country lifting it into space. The concept was designed from the start as an international collaboration.

No confusion here, and I do agree with your comment on the space agency being dependent when the shuttle program was ended.  This whole concept of not developing newer boosters is part and parcel of my concerns.

EDIT:
Here is some better news concerning developing newer boosters from NASA
http://www.spacepolicyonline.com/news/nasa-managers-sls-orion-on-track-for-2018-launch