Who invented the james webb space telescope?

Answer 1

Contrary to the namesake, nobody really "invented" the James Webb Space Telescope. It began as a NASA project for simply, a successor to the aging Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope (Which is an infrared telescope). It is now a collaborative project between 17 different countries, including the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency. Originally, it was named the Next Generation Telescope, however later on, in 2002, it was renamed the James Webb Space Telescope in remembrance of the NASA administrator, James Webb, who played a crucial role in the Apollo missions.

The closest person to an inventor of the JWST would be the current lead project scientist, John Mather and the staff at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. However, technically everyone who contributed to the JWST since 1996 could be considered co-inventors as the JWST is equipped with many different instruments purpose-built for the project.

Answer 2

The James Webb Space Telescope was named after James E. Webb, a former NASA administrator, but it was not invented by him. The telescope was developed by NASA in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.