What will be the biggest mission in the next decade?
We find out which spacecraft will be the next big thing in our exploration of the universe
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is tipped to be the next big mission. Image Credit: NASA
Asked by Christopher Lane
The biggest mission in the next decade is probably the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which is tipped for launch during 2018. The JWST is often referred to as the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, however, this next-generation telescope will be slightly different since it will study the universe in the infrared spectrum.
The JWST is quickly becoming one of NASA’s most expensive missions as excessive delays have pushed back the launch date and pushed up the price tag. As a result of this, the new telescope will undoubtedly be one of the costliest missions of the decade, so NASA is pinning its hopes on it being the biggest and best.
Certainly in terms of discovery there is a belief that this mission has the potential to give us a much deeper look and understanding into our universe.
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