Sept. 21 (UPI) — Scientists have temporarily suspended additional observations with NASA’s new James Webb telescope after a challenge was detected with one of its instruments, the area’s firm confirmed.
The telescope has a challenge with its mid-infrared instrument, camera and spectrograph that gently see in the mid-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum, with wavelengths longer than our eyes see.
The tool has 4 modes, and a mechanism that supports one of the modes started malfunctioning last August. The faulty component is used to choose other wavelengths when Webb makes s in mid-infrared tool mode.
“After initial fitness checks and investigations into the problem, an anomaly review committee met on Sept. 6 to assess the most productive way forward,” NASA said.
In addition to the existing problem, the other 3 modes of the telescope (imaging, low-resolution spectroscopy and coronagraphy) are normally useful and usable.