$10,000,000,000 James Webb Telescope could go dark due to Trump administration
The revolutionary James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) could go dark, following some cuts made by the Trump Administration.
Unfortunately, the highly advanced space technology could be out of operation, according to the latest reports.
The JWST detects objects in space that are up to 100 times fainter than objects the long-standing Hubble Telescope can, and can also see objects from earlier in the history of the universe.
Located about a million miles away, the telescope has been instrumental in making a number of groundbreaking scientific discoveries, such as a planet that has a 99.7 percent chance of biological life.
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While it utilises infrared scanning to reveal how previously unknown stars and galaxies form, it can also study the atmosphere and composition of other distant planets.
With all of these revolutionary astronomical discoveries, you'd think that the country behind it would provide the financial backing to keep it running.
However, Donald Trump may not be the biggest fan of the telescope, if reports are to be believed.
Currently, the JWST, much like other scientific research in the US, could be defunded imminently.
Trump recently removed NASA's top scientists, with a proposal of a near 50 percent budget cut to the agency's Science Mission Directorate also at stake.
They are responsible for overseeing astrophysics research, planetary science, and more, though it doesn't stop there.
The Chicago Tribune report that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a wide-view instrument that is in its final stages and set to launch in the next two years, could also be scrapped.
Other new satellites that were in the works could also face the axe.
While NASA's budget holds some funding for both the Hubble Telescope and JWST, they would mean nothing due to the cuts to NASA's staff.
The scientists operating the equipment are just as important, as Daniel Holz, an astrophysicist at the University of Chicago, said that 'the science' stops if this happens.
"It's just not viable if these cuts go through anywhere near what's proposed. There is no bare-bones mode to run these highly complex, state-of-the-art facilities," he added.
It is further reported that the Trump Administration are also attempting to make cuts at other agencies employing scientists that work in a range of industries.
The world of science could be facing turmoil if the Administration were to have their way, according to the publication.
It is well known that politics has an influence on federal spending, but the facts are that cuts at NASA will benefit other space agencies around the world.
China and Europe are already working to capitalise on the US' decision to slack on science and technology research, getting some big scientists in who feel like their time is up in the US.
In the long-term, this could affect the US' ability to create cures for medical conditions, develop new defence systems, or further simple technologies like phones and computers.
While it isn't too late to change things, the Trump's Administration has made their stance known.
Topics: James Webb Space Telescope, NASA, Donald Trump, Space, Science
Joshua Nair