James Webb Space Telescope has new sensor problems again

With the James Webb telescope, a myriad of complex mechanisms must continue to interlock for scientific work. One of them is now out of step in the depths of space. It is up to the engineers to compensate for the error.

James Webb Telescope’s MIRI instrument: Unexpected readings

James Webb has sensor problems: A report like this always causes concern for the global community of scientists working with the instrument. In the last few days, NASA had reported (via Space.com) getting unexpected readings from a part of the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). In one of the observation modes, the sensor has less “throughput”, i.e. a lower amount of light, than expected.

In the next step, NASA wants to develop a “systematic plan” with its partners to solve the problem. However, as the authority emphasizes, James Webb can continue to do its job apart from the one disturbed mode. The planned observation with the MIRI instrument itself should also be able to continue as planned.

In their update on Friday, the engineers indicated that initial measures to compensate for the problem were already being discussed. As is so often the case, the team uses the approach of compensating for failures or errors in hardware parts with the wide-ranging technical structure of the telescope. In the current case, it could therefore be sufficient for the time being to use slightly longer exposure times for the wavelengths in question.

The same instrument again

However, there is another thing that stands out with the current problem: This is once again caused by the “Medium Resolution Spectrometer” (MRS), which has been worrying the Webb team for a long time. In autumn last year we reported that a mechanism in the instrument was beginning to jam, but then came loose again months later.

See also:

Space, Astronautics, Nasa, Satellite, Solar, Telescope, Solar Cell, Solar Panel, James Webb, Solar Panel, James Webb Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope, Mirror