Episode 1402 • • 57:04 - 1:01:35
1402: Sour Crude
James Webb Space Telescope, NASA, LGBTQ Naming Controversy
NASA is preparing to launch the James Webb Space Telescope from French Guiana, a project described as having 300 single points of failure. The telescope faces controversy from the LGBTQ community due to its namesake’s role in the Truman administration’s discrimination against gay employees. The hosts discuss the technical risks of the "origami observatory" which cannot be repaired once in orbit.