NASA Stops NICER Telescope Observations Due To Problems In Tracking Tools

NASA's NICER X-ray telescope, which is stationed on the International Space Station (ISS), is experiencing problems on one of its motors. As a result, NASA had to shut down the function of the telescope.

The NICER operation began to be discontinued on June 17 after the team realized the problem on the telescope's motorbike. NASA explains that this issue affects scientists' scientific observations so technicians need to fix the problem.

"(We have) stopped observations due to a problem with one of the motors driving its ability to track cosmic objects," NASA said in a statement, quoted on Wednesday, June 25.

Previously, NICER had experienced a problem with light leakage that caused sunlight to enter the instrument. This leak interferes with observations of stars during the day, but does not interfere with observations at night.

This problem was first detected in mid-year ago and was only resolved in April this year. This light leak caused spots in the NICER thermal protective area so that the sensitive detector didn't work properly.

Although the team took a year to fix the problem of leakage of light, it is not yet known how long it will take to solve the problems on the telescope's motors. The duration of the repairs will be influenced by the level of difficulties faced by the team.

The NICER telescope has been operating for almost a decade so problems on the device keep popping up. This device was first launched in 2017 and placed on the right side of the space station.

During the eight years of operation, NICER managed to collect a lot of data. The company has measured neutron stars containing the most dense matter. Later, all these data collected will help scientists in studying black holes, active galaxies, to interesting phenomena in the universe.