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In late May the Webb got hit with what reports are calling a "micrometeoroid." Supposedly there is no major damage, but reports are just starting to come in.
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2323498-james-webb-space-telescope-was-hit-by-a-tiny-space-rock-but-its-ok/
@Liljo
Jeez and OF COURSE it had to hit one of the main mirrors. Nice way to start a show🙂
At least Hubbard is closed in, it would be hard for a micrometeor to get to the actual mirror. Webb is just sitting there, mirrors wide open to space.
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@sonhouse saidSo far they are saying "no major damage" but then, what else WOULD they say?
@Liljo
Jeez and OF COURSE it had to hit one of the main mirrors. Nice way to start a show🙂
At least Hubbard is closed in, it would be hard for a micrometeor to get to the actual mirror. Webb is just sitting there, mirrors wide open to space.
If this does impact performance, I must admit I will be very disappointed. The object that hit was larger than anything they tested for before launch.
@Liljo
That's exactly what my first concern was -- damage by space pebbles. We can only hope that these impacts don't repeat, and that Webby hasn't already suffered degradation.
@bunnyknight
I guess it depends on just how micro the meteor is. Size of a marble, coming in at 60km per second, goodbye that segment....
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@lipareeno saidMaybe reading this article will change your opinion.
Poor design in my opinion.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/webb/2022/06/
The Webb was built to sustain bombardments of space dust and particles for the entirety of its mission.
With any endeavor of this magnitude, there are risks.
@sonhouse saidYes indeed. And if it's a 20 meter meteor my hunch tells me it would probably be even worse.
@bunnyknight
I guess it depends on just how micro the meteor is. Size of a marble, coming in at 60km per second, goodbye that segment....
@kevin-eleven saidI have no worries. Those aliens are only coming to help us. Rumor has it they even made a beautiful book titled "How to Serve Man", so relax everyone.
Meanwhile the Webb Telescope has picked up an alien armada headed straight for us and more than blue-shifted.
(What a poor joke. That would probably put them outside of the Webb's frequency range.)
@lipareeno saidLOL. I read this as a 10 year old childs inner thought while watching a high speed car crash in which all passengers survived with minor injuries.
Poor design in my opinion.