The Next Generation Space Telescope

Abstract

The Next Generation Space Telescope NGST is an 6-7 m class radiatively cooled telescope, planned for launch to the Lagrange point L2 in 2009, to be built by a partnership of NASA, ESA, and CSA. The NGST science program calls for three core instruments: 1) Near IR camera, 0.6 - 5 micrometer; 2) Near IR multiobject spectrometer, 1 - 5 micrometer, and 3) Mid IR camera and spectrometer, 5 - 28 micrometers. I will report on the scientific goals, project status, and the recent reduction in aperture from the target of 8 m.