NASA Engineers Overcome Challenges to Repair Malfunctioning NICER X-ray Telescope on ISS

The Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) X-ray telescope, mounted on the International Space Station near its starboard solar array, has encountered a new setback with a motor malfunction that has temporarily halted its ability to track cosmic objects. The issue was detected by NASA engineers after pausing the telescope's operations on June 17, 2023.

Since its deployment in 2017, the NICER telescope has been a valuable tool for NASA scientists in studying extreme radio events in space. It is capable of measuring neutron stars, identifying black holes, active galaxies, and other phenomena, and aids in mapping routes for future missions, including those to Mars. However, the latest motor malfunction is part of a series of challenges the telescope has faced since its inception.

In May 2023, the NICER telescope developed a light leak after several thin thermal shields were damaged, allowing sunlight to enter and render the telescope unusable during daylight hours. NASA astronaut Nick Hague installed nine patches in January to address the worst areas of damage, but some light interference continued to affect the telescope's performance. Further inspection revealed several smaller cracks and holes that still allowed light to enter the telescope. NASA engineers reconfigured the telescope's measurement-power unit to compensate for the light intrusion, enabling it to resume normal operations on March 12.

However, additional damage to at least one thermal shield forced NASA to minimize daytime observations on May 22, resulting in further modifications to the telescope's use. Despite these setbacks, the NICER telescope remains an essential tool for NASA scientists to study and better understand extreme radio events in space.

X-ray telescopes like the NICER enable NASA scientists to conduct important observations and research. For example, observations from the NICER telescope and a Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array in low-Earth orbit allowed NASA scientists to assess a rapid burst of radio waves from a dead star called a magnetar in 2020. The burst released as much energy in a fraction of a second as the sun does during an entire year, producing a laser-like beam instead of an explosion. In October 2022, NASA scientists used the same two telescopes to observe another burst of radio waves from the same magnetar.

With ongoing repairs by NASA engineers, the NICER telescope is expected to resume its normal operations soon, providing valuable data and insights into the cosmos once again. The NICER's continued use will be crucial for understanding the mysteries of the universe and advancing our knowledge of astrophysics.