NASA kills X-ray telescope, blames project's cost CAPE
CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) —NASA killed a new X-ray telescope
mission on Thursday, two years before its planned launch. The
Gravity and Extreme Magnetism Small Explorer mission, or GEMS
for short, was supposed to blast off in 2014 to study black
holes and neutron stars. But external reviews found the project
would likely come in considerably over budget. GEMS was selected
under a strict cost cap, NASA officials said, unlike the price-
busting James Webb Space Telescope to be launched in 2018. "That
cost cap is a very important aspect of the development of the
project," said Paul Hertz, director of NASA's astrophysics
division. Webb "is different." Billions over budget and years
behind schedule, Webb is NASA's largest science project and
considered the successor to Hubble Space Telescope. Both Webb
and GEMS are managed by Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
Adjusted for inflation, GEMS was supposed to hold at $119
million, not counting the rocket, but ind