Subject: AAS Releases Statement on Proposed Cancellation of the James
Webb Space Telescope
Kevin B. Marvel, Executive Officer
The AAS Executive Committee has released the following statement
related to the proposed cancellation
of the James Web Space Telescope.
American Astronomical Society Statement on the James Webb Space Telescope
Adopted 7 July 2011
The proposal released on July 6 by the House Appropriations
Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies to
terminate the James Webb Space Telescope would waste more taxpayer
dollars than it saves while simultaneously undercutting the critical
effort to utilize American engineering and ingenuity to expand human
knowledge. Such a proposal threatens American leadership in the fields
of astrophysics and advanced space technology while likely eliminating
hundreds, if not thousands, of high-tech jobs. Additionally, this
proposal comes before the completion of a revised construction plan
and budget for a launch of JWST by 2018. The United States position as
the leader in astronomy, space science, and spaceflight is directly
threatened by this proposal.
The JWST is the highest-ranked mission in the National Academy of
Science's Astronomy and Astrophysics decadal survey released in 2000
and remains a high priority for the Nation's astronomers in this
decade as well, as the revolutionary successor to the Hubble Space
Telescope. This survey, conducted once every 10 years by hundreds of
the Nation's leading scientists, prioritizes -- based on scientific
merit and impact -- projects proposed by the scientific community that
require significant government support for completion. These reports
represent a community consensus on the efforts necessary to advance
our knowledge of the universe. The potential of JWST to transform
astronomy underlies many of the activities recommended in the 2010
decadal report released last August. JWST is designed to observe well
beyond Hubble's capabilities. It is expected to serve thousands of
astronomers in the coming decades to revolutionize our understanding
of our place in the Universe, just as Hubble has done since its
completion and launch just over two decades ago.
The JWST's completion, launch, and operation will unveil new knowledge
about the earliest formation of stars and planets and on a wide range
of additional advanced scientific questions, including many not yet
formulated. As was true with the Hubble Space Telescope, recognized as
a tremendous success by the public, scientists, and policy-makers,
building the most advanced telescopes comes with the risk of
unexpected costs and delays. However, the whole Nation can rightly
take pride in the engineering and scientific accomplishment that the
completion and launch of such instruments represents. With the help of
important international partners, we are the only nation that could
lead such an effort; we should not shirk from completing the project
when the most difficult engineering challenges have already been
overcome. As stated in the Casani report, an independent review of
project readiness completed late last year, "The JWST Project has made
excellent progress in developing the difficult technologies required
for its successful operation, and no technical constraints to
successful completion have been identified." The mirrors stand ready
and waiting for integration into the spacecraft. The telescope has
passed both preliminary design review and critical design review. It
is time to complete construction and look ahead to JWST's launch and
science operations.
The American Astronomical Society calls upon all members of Congress
to support JWST to its completion and to provide strong oversight on
the path to this goal. Too many taxpayer dollars have already been
spent to cancel the mission now; its benefits far outweigh the
remaining costs. We must see the mission through. We are a great
nation and we do great things. JWST represents our highest aspirations
and will be one of our most significant accomplishments.
