TRW Inc. has been selected by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center,
in Greenbelt, Md., to build the James Webb Space Telescope, formerly known as
the Next Generation Space Telescope, the successor to the Hubble Space
Telescope. TRW will lead development of the observatory and build and
integrate the spacecraft, which has been named in honor of NASA’s second
administrator.
The contract value announced by NASA is $824.8 million.
James Webb Space Telescope will peer into the infrared at great distances
to see the first stars and galaxies formed in the universe billions of years
ago. A component of NASA’s Origins Program, James Webb Space Telescope will
search for answers to astronomers’ fundamental questions about the birth and
evolution of galaxies, the size and shape of the universe, and the mysterious
life cycle of matter.
“TRW is proud to be NASA’s selection for this important mission to expand
mankind’s vision and understanding of the universe,” said Tim Hannemann,
president and chief executive officer, TRW Space & Electronics. “We are also
pleased to extend our legacy of partnership with NASA on complex space science
and remote sensing missions.”
Members of the TRW team, which includes Ball Aerospace and Eastman Kodak,
have played a major role on every one of NASA’s Great Observatories. The
James Webb Space Telescope program is led by NASA Goddard for NASA
Headquarters Office of Space Science and consists of an international team
involving NASA, the European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, industry and
academia.
TRW provides advanced-technology products and services for the aerospace,
systems and automotive markets. Company news releases can be found at
http://www.trw.com .
