The benefit: “JWST’s instruments are designed to make discoveries across the spectrum of astronomy — ranging from the worlds and mini-worlds in our own solar system to alien planets circling distant stars, from the supermassive black hole at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy to the edge of the observable universe.” (https://www.geekwire.com/2021/high-cost-high-risk-high-hopes...)
Extremes on the cost/benefit helped create some extreme emotions, I agree!
I don't understand why is it considered extreme cost. IIRC it's around $1/us citizen/year. For example the budget for keeping us safe from ourselves is much higher.
That's a great point, Makes me wonder what long term projects my own government have. Does anyone know of other inspiring long term projects in progress? The ITER fusion project is one that comes to mind.
Right, but I think the risk factor as well makes it emotional. There was a non-0 chance that it could be unrecoverable and we could get 0 use of it if one of the points of failure went wrong.
The benefit: “JWST’s instruments are designed to make discoveries across the spectrum of astronomy — ranging from the worlds and mini-worlds in our own solar system to alien planets circling distant stars, from the supermassive black hole at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy to the edge of the observable universe.” (https://www.geekwire.com/2021/high-cost-high-risk-high-hopes...)
Extremes on the cost/benefit helped create some extreme emotions, I agree!