[ultramegachurch]

Highly unlikely. That would require designing a new spacecraft from the ground up while also developing new robotics and operations technologies. I'd peg that mission at $300 - $500 million. NASA would almost certainty be better off documenting lessons learned and pursuing a new observatory.

[mcbutterbunz]

> I'd peg that mission at $300 - $500 million.

If that was the cost for that mission, it would be worth it considering JWST cost about 20x that amount.

[bl5THJUSFXWy4ii]

You are considering the entire cost of developing the JWST. Surely the cost of building another based on the finished design would be lower.

[nrdgrrrl]

They've spent almost 10 billion dollars on this telescope so far. What's another 0.5 billion for a repair mission?

[ultramegachurch]

That 0.5 billion (which to be clear, is a number I made up) won't guarantee that JWST will be fixed. The "fixer" spacecraft could end up failing itself. Or it could discover new problems that it's not equipped to handle.

Also, congress would be extremely critical of NASA if JWST fails. They would not be excited to shell out another $0.5 billion for a chance to fix it.