NASA says Webb Space Telescope Near infrared imaging and non-slit spectroscopy It is currently unavailable for scientific operations after a software glitch occurred earlier this month.
in a statement published Yesterday, the agency reported that the problem began on January 15, when a communications delay within the device caused its flight program to time out. Flight software is an important aspect of any instrument operating in space, as it is runs a full set of operations on a given spacecraft, including its orientation, communications, data collection, and thermal control.
The NIRISS flight program timeout doesn’t mean Webb is about to exit the site or anything else catastrophic. In fact, the NASA statement stated that “there is no indication of any risk to the instruments, and the observatory and other instruments are all in good health.” aNASA said the affected science observations would be rescheduled.
Webb completed the file A million-mile journey to L2, the sliver of space from which the observatory images the universe, a year ago this week. She filmed some Sharp views and remarkably informative Universe In six months of scientific operations so far.
But it wasn’t entirely smooth sailing for the $10 billion space observatory. While her scientific instruments were commissioned without issue, in May she was one of Webb’s mirrors Accurate meteorite hit her—a very small rock to sail through Space — it did a disservice, though the team said the telescope’s optical performance was still twice that wanted.
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There were also some software hiccups. In August, the Telescope’s Operational Infrared Instrumentation (or MIRI) had a software glitch that temporarily halted its operations. during november. And in December, There was a problem with the telescope’s orientation control, which manages where to point the telescope. Bugs put the telescope in safe mode Several times last month.
None of these issues amounts to a disaster. Keep in mind, the Hubble Space Telescope (Webb’s predecessor) continues to operate after more than 30 years in space. And he got several software updates and fixes, Including with human hands. Humans will not travel a A million miles across space to tackle Webb’s problems, so should NASA Dealing with software issues from the ground.
Space agencies may design the space observatories of the future to be so Upgraded with Android serviceBut at this time, Webb maintenance needs to be done remotely.
Webb has done some tremendous work so far will I continue To illuminate the oldest and most obscure regions of the universe. You can check out some of what’s on the agendaalong with other astronomy plans for this year, here.