NASA's Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) X-ray telescope has temporarily halted operations due to motor performance degradation impacting its ability to observe celestial objects. This follows recent enhancements made during a repair mission in January 2025, which aimed to address a 'light leak' issue. NICER, operational since 2017 on the International Space Station, was not intended for astronaut servicing, complicating repairs. Though improvements were noted after recent fixes, further issues with the motor have prompted engineers to investigate, reflecting the ongoing operational challenges of space-based research.
NASA's NICER X-ray telescope has paused operations due to motor performance degradation affecting science observations, highlighting ongoing challenges in space-based astrophysics.
The telescope, mounted on the ISS, originally designed for an 18-month primary mission, has faced multiple challenges, including a light leak and damaged thermal shields affecting daytime observations.
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