Save the James Webb Space Telescope

2011 has been a rough year for space exploration. We've seen the end of the space shuttle program, the cancellation of numerous deep space missions, and an overall willingness on behalf of society to put fundamental science on the back-burner.

This is a big mistake. The United States has already lost the lead in human space flight with the end of the shuttle program. We will have to pay the Russian space program for transit to the space station for the foreseeable future.

We have also lost our way in robotic exploration. Several large robotic missions have been delayed indefinitely due to cost and perceived low value.

For the first time in fifty years, the USA has no capability to put people in space, and for also the first time in fifty years, NASA is not working on a large robotic mission.

Worse, an idea has recently arisen in congress to cancel the James Webb Space Telescope. This telescope is intended as the replacement for the Hubble. It is no exaggeration to say that the Hubble telescope has repeatedly givens us new fundamental insights into the secrets of the universe, and the James Webb Space Telescope will continue that work. The potential discoveries, waiting for the James Webb, are scarcely within human imagination.

The telescope has had a difficult development process because it is revolutionary in every sense of the word. It is hard to stick to a schedule while reinventing the wheel. If we canceled every time-consuming revolution in our nation's history, we wouldn't be a nation at all.

I would like to send a book of the most significant Hubble Telescope images to every member of congress and senator, along with a note from the scientific community about the significant of the James Webb Space Telescope. I hope you'll consider backing me. Thanks for watching.

http://www.indiegogo.com/Save-the-James-Webb-Space-Telescope

Category:

Comedy

Tags:

• saveJWST

[jnosanov]

Thanks!

[whistlelips]

The US could have plenty of money for projects like this. Waste and abuse of our safety net social programs has reached epic proportions, then couple that with a foreign policy that is beyond our scope and incompetent leadership in Washington. Shame on us.

[GreenTDave]

I agree that other nations will not only catch up to the US, but in many cases, pass it!

[varungargg8]

i ll support

[activan2]

Жаль что проет закрыли.

[homousios]

I and others will share tis video and hopefully a groundswell of support will alter this depressing reality

[homousios]

@TheFinalFantasyXCIX sorry about that rant but frustration at the myopic gasbags in washington. Imagine cancelling the JWST!!

[TheFinalFantasyXCIX]

@homousios wtf?