Why do scientists want to rename the James Webb Space Telescope? – News

telescope pictures James Webbthe most powerful site ever in space, succeeded last week by displaying records of distant galaxies that formed after the Big Bang, for the first time.

However, the excitement has reignited calls from some scientific communities wishing to rename the space instrument due to NASA scientist James Edwin Webb’s alleged involvement in government policies to persecute the LGBTQIA+ community.

After serving as Under Secretary of State from 1949 to 1952, Webb became the second director of the US Space Agency, a position he held from 1961 to 1968.

During these seven years, he was accused several times of colluding with the US government in the systematic dismissal of LGBTQIA+ employees, a measure that became known as part of the tulip scare (Lavender Scare, in free translation).

At that time, people who were not known to be righteous or the CIS countries were considered a danger to the United States and were seen as an “evil to be fought.” Forced to resign or dismissed from public service because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In a statement to NBC News, a NASA spokesperson said Tuesday that agency historians have conducted “a comprehensive search of the currently accessible archives about James Webb and his career.” The work included conversations with experts who “have done extensive research on this topic before.”

“NASA has found no evidence at this time that would justify changing the telescope’s name,” the statement said. “They are now gathering their information in an update that the agency will share.”

Despite this, the defense organization Only Space Alliance He released a 40-minute documentary detailing evidence of Webb’s involvement in discriminatory policies.

“I think NASA is making life difficult for everyone by not being willing to start or even engage in some kind of transparent and open conversation about the issue at hand, with that specific name for this particular telescope and an idea of ​​what we can do,” says astrophysicist Brian Nord in the film.

* Trainee in R7Under the supervision of Pablo Marquez