Nasa sets new date for James Webb space telescope launch

The instrument will be the largest and most powerful telescope ever to be launched into space

The much-delayed launch of the James Webb space telescope will go ahead on 24 December, Nasa and the company overseeing the launch have confirmed.

The project, begun in 1989, was originally expected to deploy the instrument - which will be the largest and most powerful telescope ever to be launched into space - in the early 2000s.