NASA Astronaut Set for Historic Spacewalk to Repair X-ray Telescope

In an exciting development for space exploration, NASA astronaut Nick Hague is gearing up to embark on a pivotal spacewalk on January 16 to install critical patches to the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) X-ray telescope aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Accompanying him will be fellow astronaut Suni Williams, as they tackle several important tasks during this mission.

NICER is breaking new ground as the first NASA observatory to be repaired in orbit since the final servicing mission of the iconic Hubble Space Telescope in 2009. This mission marks a significant milestone in NASA's history as it revives essential scientific operations in space.

Prior to this momentous event, Hague and his colleague Don Pettit participated in rigorous rehearsals for the NICER repair procedures at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), an expansive 6.2-million-gallon pool designed to simulate the weightlessness of space. Lucas Widner, a flight controller at NASA Johnson Space Center, emphasized the importance of these practice sessions to prepare the crew for the complexities of conducting repairs outside the ISS.

"Most of our work in spacewalks revolves around maintenance tasks, so it's refreshing to focus on restoring a science mission back to operational status," he remarked.

From its position near the ISS’s starboard solar array, NICER has been a vital asset in studying the X-ray universe, including phenomena such as black holes, neutron stars, and even distant galaxies. However, in May 2023, NICER encountered a setback when it developed a "light leak," allowing sunlight to infiltrate through damaged thermal shields. This issue compromised the telescope’s ability to accurately detect cosmic objects, necessitating adjustments to its observational strategies.

To counter this problem, engineers designed wedge-shaped patches that will be installed during the spacewalk. Hague will maneuver the patches into place using a familiar tool called a T-handle, enabling him to secure the telescope's sunshades and effectively prevent further light interference.

The NBL not only served as a training ground but also featured life-size replicas of various sections of the ISS, allowing astronauts to replicate the conditions they would face in space. Each practice session for the NICER repair took just under an hour, requiring precise coordination among crew members to transport tools and assess the telescope for any additional damage.

Although training underwater presents different challenges than those faced in the vacuum of space, the practice allowed astronauts to fine-tune their movements and approach to the task. This thorough preparation aims to ensure safety and efficiency during the actual repair process.

NICER's mission is part of NASA’s Explorers Program, which funds innovative scientific investigations from space. Excitingly, this is the first time astronauts will have serviced an X-ray telescope, lending historical significance to the upcoming spacewalk.

As anticipation builds, mission leaders like Keith Gendreau—NICER's principal investigator at NASA Goddard—express their enthusiasm for the mission. "Witnessing the astronauts train and then debriefing them afterward is exhilarating. We're thrilled to see the culmination of science and human spaceflight come together during this repair," he said.

As the date approaches, the preparations continue, with the spotlight on Hague's upcoming journey outside the ISS. This endeavor not only seeks to restore NICER's functionality but also paves the way for future advancements in astrophysics and spacecraft technology. Stay tuned as we bring you updates on this historic mission!