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James Webb led NASA in the 1960s as it prepared to land humans on the moon.
After three astronauts died in a fire in 1967, he established the tradition that NASA would admit its mistakes through transparent investigations; He was also a champion of space science as well as human spaceflight.
In 2002, NASA administrator Sean O’Keefe announced that the next telescope would be named Mr. Webb. Some astronomers were disappointed that it would not be named for an astronomer.
Other scholars have objected on other grounds, arguing that Mr. Webb held some responsibility in purging gay men and women who worked in the State Department during what was known as the Lavender Fear of the Truman administration. At the time, Mr. Webb was foreign minister.
NASA has launched an investigation. Later, current executive and former Florida senator Bill Nelson announced that he would not change his name. But some scientists continued their criticism of the telescope’s nameand one resigned from NASA advisory boards in protest.
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