GAO On Webb: Things Are Getting Better, But …

James Webb Space Telescope: Project Nearing Completion, but Work to Resolve Challenges Continues
“Since 2019, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) project, one of the agency’s most complex science missions, has made considerable progress toward launch–now planned for October 2021–by resolving technical issues, but some schedule and cost challenges remain. For example, in March 2021, NASA officials reported that launch vehicle anomalies that the project’s international partners need to resolve will likely lead to a further delay to the launch date. The project has also used schedule reserves–extra time set aside to accommodate unforeseen risks or delays–faster than expected to address issues such as repairing and strengthening the sunshield.”