[nate_meurer]

Yep, especially shitty since the project is so far along.

It needs to be said that JWST isn't primarily over-budget because of technical problems, but because they didn't do realistic cost and time estimates in the first place. Overall, the project has suffered very few technical surprises.

[TheCondor]

So what does this mean? We just shit can it?

Or it sits on a shelf for a couple years or what? If we want to save money, shouldn't we kill something before we start it?

[nate_meurer]

Projects of this complexity are difficult to mothball, and the costs of restarting are very high. We've seen that with the F-22 fighter.

What we really need are politicians who can grasp the ROI of basic science (which is what I believe the JWST is) and have the will to prioritize it.

Sadly, politicians with both brains and courage are a rare breed.

[jamesbritt]

You say that like politicians with either brains or courage is somehow not rare.