Washington, Dec 15 (IANS): The launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, touted as NASA's next great space observatory, has yet again been delayed as the team is working to fix a communication issue.

In an announcement posted on its official page, NASA said that the James Webb Space Telescope team is working to fix a communication issue between the observatory and the launch vehicle system.

"This will delay the launch date to no earlier than December 24. We will provide more information about the new launch date no later than December 17," according to the blogpost.

The Webb Space Telescope is an international partnership with the European and Canadian space agencies. It has witnessed a set of delays.

Webb was first targeted to launch in March this year. It was later pushed back to October due to impacts from the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as well as technical challenges.

But in September, NASA confirmed plans to launch the telescope into orbit on December 18, which was again moved back to the December 22.

Webb will launch on an Ariane 5 from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana on the northeastern coast of South America. ESA is providing the Ariane 5.

The telescope will explore every phase of cosmic history -- from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe, and everything in between. Webb will also reveal new and unexpected discoveries, and help humanity understand the origins of the universe and our place in it.

The much-awaited $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope is touted as the successor to the iconic Hubble Space Telescope.