Nasa detects issues in James Webb Space Telescope

Glitch was seen in MIRI of JWST, however, telescope's other critical instruments remain unaffected, says Nasa

Web Desk

April 25, 2023

This shows the primary mirror of Nasas James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) inside a cleanroom at Nasas Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. — AFP/File — This shows the primary mirror of Nasa's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) inside a cleanroom at Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. — AFP/File

Nasa said that its scientists have found "discrepancies" in data from one of the 17 observatories of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as it has been going under routine monitoring.

The space agency said that the glitch was seen in the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) of JWST however, the telescope's other critical instruments remain unaffected.

According to Nasa, "MIRI has both a camera and a spectrograph that sees light in the mid-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, with wavelengths that are longer than our eyes see. MIRI covers the wavelength range of 5 to 28 microns."

This image shows a mosaic image stretching 340 light-years across, captured with the James Webb Space Telescope displaying the Tarantula Nebula star-forming region in a new light, including tens of thousands of never-before-seen young stars that were previously shrouded in cosmic dust. — AFP/File

In its official press release, Nasa maintained the issue in JWST: "Further analysis of MIRI’s Medium Resolution Spectroscopy (MRS) mode revealed that at the longest wavelengths, the throughput, or the amount of light that is ultimately registered by MIRI's sensors, has decreased since commissioning last year."

The US-based space administration also added: No effect has been seen for MIRI imaging, and there is no risk to the instrument. All other observation modes — within MIRI and each of Webb’s other scientific instruments — remain unaffected.

The team is analysing data and investigating the cause of what led to the issue in the observatory. Meanwhile, the Webb team will continue MIRI observations as planned.

This image from NASAs James Webb Space Telescope released by NASA on March 15, 2023 shows the Wolf-Rayet star WR 124. A distinctive halo of gas and dust frames the star and glows in the infrared light detected by Webb, displaying knotty structure and a history of episodic ejections. — AFP — This image from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope released by NASA on March 15, 2023 shows the Wolf-Rayet star WR 124. A distinctive halo of gas and dust frames the star and glows in the infrared light detected by Webb, displaying knotty structure and a history of episodic ejections. — AFP

Nasa's statement added while highlighting a strategy to prevent such issues in future: "The team will gather all relevant ground test and flight data to fully assess MRS performance. Further test observations will be taken to completely characterise the nature of the issue using this particular mode of observation.

Next, a plan for long term-monitoring will be enacted, while the team continues to investigate the cause, identify risks, and explore mitigations that would potentially improve performance. One possible mitigation strategy includes taking slightly longer exposures at the affected wavelengths to increase the signal to noise."

Medium Resolution Spectrometer is not witnessing issues for the first time. From August to November last year, MIRI had a stuck grating wheel for a few months however, it continued its operations with the help of other modes.

This landscape of mountains and valleys speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. Captured in infrared light by NASAs new James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals for the first time previously invisible areas of star birth. — NASA/File — This landscape of mountains and valleys speckled with glittering stars is actually the edge of a nearby, young, star-forming region called NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula. Captured in infrared light by NASA's new James Webb Space Telescope, this image reveals for the first time previously invisible areas of star birth. — NASA/File

JWST was built at the cost of $10 and was launched in December 2021. It is stationed at a distance of one million miles from the earth — known as Lagrange Point 2, a place gravitationally stable in space.