Northrop Grumman CEO comments on James Webb space telescope errors

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope continues to receive support of Congress, but lawmakers Thursday expressed dismay at the performance of Northrop Grumman, the huge aeronautical contractor who committed a series of errors delaying the launch of the telescope until 2021 at the earliest . Wes Bush, the CEO of the company, found himself on the defensive when he testified before the scientific committee of the House. He repeatedly refused to specify the profit made by his company last year

. The Webb telescope was designed in 1996 as the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, and NASA hoped to launch it in 2007.

infrared telescope with a segmented mirror 6.5 meters wide, and it should be kept cold for collect the light emitted in the primitive universe when the stars were just beginning to form galaxies. This requires a five-layer sun visor the size of a tennis court that must deploy in the space.

In a jolt test in April, the screws were coming off the sunshade, just the latest in a series of technical problems. errors at Northrop Grumman. An independent review committee urged NASA and Congress to continue the program, but said that there were 344 "potential" failures "that could condemn the telescope with a single mistake, and he urged to take care to eliminate technical problems. The latest estimate of project costs is $ 9.7 billion, most of which has already been spent.

Bush admitted that Northrop Grumman's mistakes had been a factor in the delays. He promised that the company would put all its past profits and potential future profits – known as "reward fees" – into a common pot to be awarded only if the telescope is successful.

Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) Asked him if the company would consider paying the last cost overrun of $ 800 million from his own pocket. Bush said it would turn the company's cost-plus contract with NASA into a fixed-price contract, and that it would "significantly hurt" the company's relationship with NASA [19659012]. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) Is mocked by comments made by Bush and other lawmakers about how the Webb will inspire young people.

"I am sorry I can not join you in this inspiring testimony you gave today, Mr. Bush, I do not think we should look to our young people and give them the example of A budget eight times over budget and twice as long, "he said.

He added," You can say, "Is the Jim Webb telescope worth all that money? That's not what the question is.The question is: "Is this worth all the other projects that we could not fund in this committee because you failed in your work? "

He asked Bush how much Northrop Grumman was profiting last year. Bush replied that it was in the government documents

"Are these hundreds of millions or billions?" Asked the Congressman

"This is a very large number ". End of Bush's testimony, when Smith pressed Bush to find out if someone had been fired for the Webb Project's mistakes, then was trying to convince Bush to discuss business profits

Smith: " You do not know if an employee lost their job because of human error? "

Bush:" Regarding the mistakes we are talking about today, I do not remember losing their job. "

Smith:" What was Northrop's profit last year? in 2017, just to the nearest tenth of a billion? "

Bush:" We can get it to you. get for memory ".

Smith: "I'm sorry?"

Bush: "We can provide that Smith:" Why do not you tell us today what it is? "

Bush: "I do not have"

Smith: "How could a CEO not know the profit of his business last year?

Bush: "We'll give you that for the record.

The president gave up.

The company's financial report for 2017 indicates that it had a pre-tax profit slightly above $ 3 billion

James Bridenstine, NASA director, had testified before the same committee on Wednesday . He served on the Scientific Committee as a representative of Oklahoma until early in the year, when he was confirmed as Trump President to head the Space Agency

Bridenstine acknowledged that Webb delays will force NASA to "cannibalize" funding for other missions. But he touted Webb's scientific virtues and said, "We are on the 5-yard line, and we are trying to hit the end zone."

Although he faced some comments growling, his former colleagues generally sweet. The most pointed remarks came from Rohrabacher, who began by saying, "This, of course, is very disturbing.It's about the biggest job I've ever seen, and the taxpayers are fuck here. "

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