NASA May Still Rename the James Webb Space Telescope
Opponents of the name are calling for the project to be renamed because of the alleged bad reputation of James Webb himself. People remembered that during his time in the federal government, he fueled discrimination against the LGBT community.
The James Webb Space Telescope has a rather complicated fate. It has been designed and assembled for nearly 20 years, endured numerous launch delays, and had funding problems. However, it was finally launched into space, where it is now completing the final stage of adjusting its mirrors.
However, another problem is its name, which NASA might change. James Webb, after whom the telescope is named, was NASA's second administrator. From 1961 to 1968, he directed the Apollo program that landed the first humans on the Moon. In 2002, agency administrator Sean O'Keefe suggested naming the next-generation space telescope after Webb.
According to Space.com, the name of James Webb at NASA was not agreed to by all. The controversy surrounding the telescope's name hasn't subsided since the summer of 2021. Opponents of the name are calling for the project to be renamed because of the alleged bad reputation of James Webb himself. People remembered that during his time in the federal government, he fueled discrimination against the LGBT community. The scandal resulted in thousands of people being fired or forced to resign.
Because of the scandal, the start of observations may be delayed. There is now a major debate within the aerospace administration over the name. Archival documents are being lifted to look for evidence of James Webb's homophobia toward NASA employees. If they are found, the telescope may be renamed.