The James Webb Space Telescope Gets Hit by a Micrometeoroid

 

The James Webb Space Telescope, scheduled to launch in October 2018, has run into an issue right out of the gate – it was hit by a micrometeoroid, causing some damage to the telescope’s exterior panels. NASA says this damage isn’t too worrisome, as most of the telescope’s actual science equipment remains unharmed. At this point, engineers are working on plans to make repairs as quickly and easily as possible to minimize any delay in the space telescope’s launch date.

 

What is the JWST?

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is an enormous and complex machine scheduled to launch in October 2018. The JWST will be three times more powerful than its predecessors and can see farther into space, making it one of our best tools for learning about objects that existed long before Earth. NASA has nicknamed it Webb as a tribute to one of NASA’s most respected scientists, Edwin P. Hubble, after whom the Hubble Telescope was named too.

 

What is a micrometeoroid?

A micrometeoroid is extraterrestrial, natural space debris. It is tiny — typically between 0.1 and 10 millimeters across (about 0.004 to 0.4 inches). A micrometeorite is made of meteorite material or rock from space that has fallen to Earth. NASA-sponsored research projects have determined that more than 100 tons of interplanetary dust and meteoritic material rain down on Earth daily.

 

What does this mean for launch?

While we don’t know how serious an impact it will have on the launch, we can assume that repairs are needed. The delay is likely due to damage to one of its instruments, which will delay its launch schedule. If all goes well with repairing and replacing parts, JWST should be ready for launch in late 2018 or early 2019.