NICER / ISS Science Nugget
for January 16, 2025
Patching up NICER
The NICER team supported the 91st U.S. EVA on January 16, which included a task to mitigate damage sustained by NICER in May 2023. Crew member Nick Hague installed nine patches to cover punctured optical filters that allowed sunlight to enter NICER's science instrument during orbit day, interfering with its ability to detect cosmic X-rays. Detailed evaluation of the effectiveness of the patches continues.
On behalf of the worldwide community of scientists who depend on the payload's data, the NICER team wishes to express our deep gratitude to the entire ISS program -- especially the EVA and Research Integration teams at JSC as well as the POIC at MSFC -- for their tremendous support in the development of hardware, procedures, and the execution of the repair.
Screenshot (from video) of the front face of NICER's X-ray Timing Instrument, as seen by the helmet camera of crew-member Nick Hague. Nine wedge-shaped patches recently inserted within some of the XTI's circular sunshades are visible.
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