NASA will send astronauts to patch up leaky ISS telescope

NASA is sending astronauts out to fix an X-ray telescope on the International Space Station (ISS) after the instrument developed a "light leak." The telescope in question is the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), which collects X-ray measurements. In May 2023, scientists found that the instrument had developed …

[Pascal Monett]

So how did it "develop a leak" ?

Was a very small micrometeorite the cause, or did the incessant heating/cooling from orbiting the planet 20 times a day finally create cracks in the telescope tube ?

Inquiring minds and all that . . .

[rgjnk]

Re: So how did it "develop a leak" ?

Or is it going to be another mysterious hole drilling event?

[Annihilator]

Re: So how did it "develop a leak" ?

Same reason that if you leave a Hoover in the remotest woods, it'll just disappear one day. Because nature abhors a vacuum.

[ravenviz]

Re: So how did it "develop a leak" ?

That’s just a Ruumour!

[Marty McFly]

"Nighttime observations were unaffected."

So there is actually "nighttime" in outer space? Or are they talking about the 46 minutes or so of every orbit when ISS passes through Earth's shadow?

[Eclectic Man]

HOWARD!!!

(Screechy voice)

HOWARD!! IT'S NASA, THEY WANT YOU TO GO INTO SPACE AGAIN!

Sorry, couldn't resist. I hope everything goes well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeUVPoSNy98

[The Oncoming Scorn]

Life On A Space Station

Susan Ivanova: I've always had a hard time getting up when it's dark outside.

Jeffrey Sinclair: But in space, it's always dark.

Ivanova: [morosely] I know. I know.

[DS999]

Why design it to be attached to the ISS

If you aren't going to design it to be serviceable? What's the gain from its proximity otherwise?

[Pascal Monett]

Re: Why design it to be attached to the ISS

Electricity from the ISS's solar panels ?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Why design it to be attached to the ISS

Not having to build your own manoeuvring system, tracking, de-orbit capability, independent comms links, etc etc.

Frankly, if its possible to attach to the ISS and fits within mission parameters, why wouldn't you??

Also (just guessing) possibly designed to be disposable, but NASA have decided to extend its mission.

[Fruit and Nutcase]

Tin Foil

As perhaps found in the ISS kitchen, of the Aluminium type (if not available, then Aluminum is just as good) is ideal as a light blocker

[Alan Brown]

Re: Tin Foil

Whatever's blocking VISIBLE light has to pass xrays (and fairly low energy ones at that)

Xray telescopes aren't built like anything you've experienced (unless you're an xray astronomer). They look like a large set of nesting concentric metal tubes: https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/observatories/technology/xray_telescopes1.html

Foil would block a lot of what's wanted AND is spectacularly fragile when facing being handled by someone wearing what approximates 2 wetsuits and double gloved with heavy latex, covered with leather gloves on top

Astronauts on spacewalks are amazingly clunky but also fragile as hell (a small water coolant leak in zero-G can drown someone before they managed to get to the airlocks thanks to surface tension) and wouldn't be used at all if telehandlers were up to the task. It's an incredibly dangerous and above all SLOW way to do anything

An ideal repair can be manouvered in place with the arm and self-guide/lock into position with no spacesuited intervention required - which is a lot easier said than done

[Annihilator]

Father Ted

You have used 3 inches of sticky tape, God bless you