NASA cancels astronomy mission
Posted: Fri, Jun 8, 2012, 7:41 AM ET (1141 GMT)
Citing growing costs, NASA officials announced Thursday they were canceling a small x-ray astronomy mission that was still in the early stages of development. The Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer (GEMS) mission failed to pass a confirmation review by NASA last week, and the decision not to continue development of the mission was formally confirmed by the agency on Thursday. Officials said development of the instruments needed for the spacecraft was proving to be more difficult than originally planned, driving up costs and leading to cost overruns of 20 to 30 percent above its $119-million cost cap, based on independent analyses of the project. NASA will spend about $50 million on GEMS, including termination costs. The mission, part of NASA's Explorer program of small astrophysics mission, had planned to launch in late 2014 to study x-ray emissions from the vicinity of supermassive black holes and neutron stars.
Citing growing costs, NASA officials announced Thursday they were canceling a small x-ray astronomy mission that was still in the early stages of development. The Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer (GEMS) mission failed to pass a confirmation review by NASA last week, and the decision not to continue development of the mission was formally confirmed by the agency on Thursday. Officials said development of the instruments needed for the spacecraft was proving to be more difficult than originally planned, driving up costs and leading to cost overruns of 20 to 30 percent above its $119-million cost cap, based on independent analyses of the project. NASA will spend about $50 million on GEMS, including termination costs. The mission, part of NASA's Explorer program of small astrophysics mission, had planned to launch in late 2014 to study x-ray emissions from the vicinity of supermassive black holes and neutron stars.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX sets Nov. 18 launch date for sixth Starship test flight
Posted: Sat, Nov 9 9:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, November 23
DirecTV Abandons Deal to Acquire Dish Amid Bondholder Opposition
Hollywood Reporter — 2:16 am ET (0716 GMT) DirecTV Ditches Dish Deal
Variety — 2:16 am ET (0716 GMT) DirecTV calling off Dish Network takeover after bondholders balk
Los Angeles Times — 2:15 am ET (0715 GMT) DirecTV terminates Dish deal over failed debt swap
Reuters — 2:14 am ET (0714 GMT) DirecTV announces termination of deal to buy Dish satellite business
Ars Technica — 2:13 am ET (0713 GMT) |
