NASA delays next-generation space telescope until 2020

NASA has once again delayed the launch of its next-generation space telescope, this time, until 2020.

Officials say they need more time to assemble and test the James Webb Space Telescope, which is considered a successor to the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope.

The observatory was supposed to fly this year. But last fall, NASA bumped the launch to 2019. NASA announced the latest delay on Tuesday.

Since its proposal in the late 1990s, the telescope has faced numerous delays.

"We have one shot to get this right before going into space," said Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA's associate administrator of science.

He said some mistakes were made while preparing the telescope, and NASA underestimated the scale of the job.

Hubble had its own share of issues. Following its launch in 1990, it was recognized almost immediately that there was a problem with its optics. Instead of crisp images, the telescope was sending back blurry photos, a result of a flawthat was just 1/50ththe thickness of a sheet of paper.

A repair crew was sent up in 1993, which corrected Hubble's "eyesight."

Canadian tech

The James Webb is a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA).

The CSA is providing the telescope's Fine Guidance Sensor, as well as one four science instruments on board, the Near-InfraRedImager and Slitless Spectograph (NIRISS) which will aid in the search for exoplanets.

The agencieswill work together to firm up a new launch date, now tentatively targeted for May 2020. Once a new date is set, NASA says it will provide a new cost estimate.

Officials say the cost may exceed the $8 billion program cap set by Congress. NASA has already poured $7 billion into the telescope.