JWST Launch Date and Proposal Deadline Delayed Again
This post is adapted from a Space Telescope Science Institute email message and web page:
The major disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect all of us. Integration and testing of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) are among the activities impacted. NASA has re-evaluated the project schedule and announced a new launch readiness date of 31 October 2021 (a 7-month delay from 31 March 2021).
After consulting with the JWST Users Committee, the Space Telescope Science Institute, NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency have finalized the review schedule for Cycle 1 proposals.
The JWST Cycle 1 General Observer (GO) proposal deadline will be 8:00 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, 24 November 2020.
We are announcing the deadline well in advance, so that proposers have flexibility to prepare proposals as their COVID-impacted schedules permit. The Cycle 1 Call for Proposals remains unchanged from its release earlier this year. All proposal tools and documentation are available to proposers.
Note added 9 September 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant, and often unpredictable, disruption to almost all aspects of everyday life in 2020, including scientific research and researchers. As a mitigating step to aid JWST proposers, following the recommendation of the JWST User Committee (JSTUC), STScI will allow proposers to request an extension of the proposal deadline to 8 pm Eastern time on 3 December 2020 if they are faced with unexpected events that occur shortly before the primary deadline, 8 pm Eastern time on 24 November 2020. See the JWST Cycle 1 Proposal Deadline Extension Request for further details.
The JWST Telescope Allocation Committee will review the proposals in February 2021 and recommend the Cycle 1 GO science program for announcement in March 2021.
We send best wishes to our user community and their families in these challenging times.
As always, please contact the JWST Help Desk if you have any questions.