NASA Saved a Camera 370M Miles Away Near Jupiter
9 months ago
- #NASA
- #Space Technology
- #Jupiter
- NASA's Juno spacecraft's JunoCam imager was repaired using an experimental annealing technique to counteract radiation damage.
- The annealing process involved heating JunoCam to 77 degrees Fahrenheit, which initially restored image quality for several orbits.
- Radiation damage recurred, prompting a more extreme annealing approach that successfully restored image quality just before a close encounter with Jupiter's moon Io.
- JunoCam captured detailed images of Io's north polar region, revealing mountain blocks and previously uncharted volcanoes.
- The annealing technique has been adapted for use on other Juno instruments and engineering subsystems, offering insights for future radiation-tolerant spacecraft.
- Juno's mission is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and is part of the New Frontiers Program, with contributions from international and commercial partners.