NASA Delays Launch of New Telescope Until 2020

The James Webb Space Telescope is NASA's next big space observatory and was set to be released this year. However, according to Space.com, the launch will now be taking place in May 2020 at the soonest.

The reason for this setback is simply because NASA wants to continue testing all of the systems and setbacks that are included in this intricate telescope.

The telescope is currently set to have a price tag of $8.8 billion, but this may rise now due to the delayed release.

NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot said in a statement, "All the observatory's flight hardware is now complete; however, the issues brought to light with the spacecraft element are prompting us to take the necessary steps to refocus our efforts on the completion of this ambitious and complex observatory."

There are two parts to the space observatory — the actual telescope itself and a shield to protect it from the harsh heat rays coming from the sun. 

When it is finished, James Webb Space Telescope will be the largest space observatory ever released! After all the hardware mishaps and testing is settled, this launch is sure to make history.