A new NASA report admits that damage to the James Webb Space Telescope is more extensive than previously thought. Debris striking the telescope’s primary mirror caused significant and irreparable harm. The unforeseen event is a reminder of the inherent uncertainty of space exploration.
Assessing the Damage
In June, 2022, NASA announced that its powerful new telescope had been struck by a micrometeoroid in late May. The tiny speck of space dust collided with the spacecraft, striking one of 18 mirrors. Now the impact has been fully assessed and found to be worse than expected.
Each hexagonal mirror on the telescope reflects light from deep space, combining into a single image. The James Webb Space Telescope, or JWST, can still function without one or more mirrors. The loss, however, reduces its accuracy and clarity.
To make matters worse, it’s unlikely that NASA will be able to repair the mirror anytime soon. The JWST orbits about a million miles away from Earth, meaning maintenance is no easy task. In this case, the broken mirror is simply an unlucky fact of life.
Dealing With Micrometeoroids
Collisions with debris are nothing new when it comes to space exploration. Spacecraft contend not only with micrometeoroids but with debris left behind by older missions. Space rocks and junk hurtle around Earth’s orbit at dizzying speeds.
NASA officials plan for a certain amount of damage to any technology in space. Normally, spacecraft weather about one impact per month. This impact is only notable because it exceeded NASA’s expectations and testing abilities.
Moving Forward in Space Technology
Despite this setback, the James Webb Space Telescope is still operational and sending its first images home to NASA. The array’s 17 other mirrors can thankfully compensate for the lost one. But for NASA, the question now is how to avoid further collisions.
Possible solutions include limiting the rotation of the telescope. Certain directions while orbiting are more likely to result in a strike. But while NASA can use this lesson for future missions, the future of the JWST may rely mainly on better luck moving forward.
Dil Bole Oberoi
