Contamination affecting Chandra instrument
Posted: Fri, Nov 7, 2003, 8:22 AM ET (1322 GMT)
A layer of contamination is reducing the effectiveness of one instrument on NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory, New Scientist magazine reported this week. In an article published in the November 8 issue of the British magazine, project officials confirm that a thin layer of grease had built up on a filter located in front of the spacecraft's Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS). The layer has the effect of reducing the amount of low-energy x-rays reaching the instrument, as if a gas cloud existed in space between the x-ray source and the telescope, absorbing the x-rays. Project engineers are considering a "bakeout" where the filter is heated to remove the grease, although there is concern the procedure could make the problem worse. That bakeout, if carried out, would not take place until April or May of 2004.
A layer of contamination is reducing the effectiveness of one instrument on NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory, New Scientist magazine reported this week. In an article published in the November 8 issue of the British magazine, project officials confirm that a thin layer of grease had built up on a filter located in front of the spacecraft's Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer (ACIS). The layer has the effect of reducing the amount of low-energy x-rays reaching the instrument, as if a gas cloud existed in space between the x-ray source and the telescope, absorbing the x-rays. Project engineers are considering a "bakeout" where the filter is heated to remove the grease, although there is concern the procedure could make the problem worse. That bakeout, if carried out, would not take place until April or May of 2004.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
China launches first Long March 12A, but booster landing fails
Posted: Sun, Dec 28 9:50 AM ET (1450 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, December 29
Iran Says It Launched 3 Satellites Into Space From Russia
AFP — 5:08 am ET (1008 GMT) Starlink withdraws satellite services from Papua New Guinea
Radio New Zealand — 5:07 am ET (1007 GMT) SpaceX Rocket Launch of Italian Satellite Scrubbed Again
Noozhawk — 5:04 am ET (1004 GMT) If we're going to vacation on the Moon, we need to make sure no-one is left behind
BBC — 5:03 am ET (1003 GMT) New Outer Hebrides spaceport won't launch rockets on a Sunday
The Sunday Post — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) |
