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ABSTRACT
During 2010 and 2011, debate ensued over funding for National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). This article uses stasis theory to analyze reports and statements produced by NASA, politicians, and scientists. The analysis reveals that an official report addresses stasis questions and guides further action. Additionally, varying perspectives on the telescope suggest that definitions play a crucial role in technology funding debates. This analysis demonstrates that stasis theory provides a productive tool for analyzing technology policy debates.
Notes
1. The ICRP report does not identify technical problems despite the existence of “threats”—risk to the project—because these threats are expected in large-scale scientific projects and should be addressed through budgeting and project management strategies.
2. Wolf does not voice only strident opposition to the telescope. During Congressional Testimony on July 13, 2011, Wolf said of JWST “We want to do it, but we want to do it in the right way” (Jones, Citation2011).
3. Some commentators speculated that scientists who did not support JWST kept silent rather than speak out against public funding for a scientific project. See Billings (Citation2010).
4. JWST’s future remains uncertain until its launch. JWST’s progress underwent further Congressional scrutiny in March 2015 over concerns about the technical performance of its cryocooler instrument (Moscowitz, Citation2015).
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Ryan Weber
Ryan Weber is an assistant professor of English and the director of the business and technical writing program at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. His work has appeared in Journal of Technical Writing and Communication, Journal of Advanced Composition, and College Composition and Communication.