0:00 A NICER patch slowly rotates counterclockwise. 0:14 A top-down view of the same patch, still rotating. 0:21 Another side view of the patch rotating. A gloved hand enters from the right-hand side, picks up the patch, and turns it on its side. The patch begins rotating again, so the tab on the bottom becomes visible. 1:03 A gloved hand slowly tilts a damaged thermal shield. 1:41 The thermal shield rests in a container that slowly rotates. 2:08 A gloved hand rotates a NICER X-ray concentrator. 2:30The camera moves past the X-ray concentrator. 2:52 A hand places a NICER sunshade on the table. 2:58 The sunshade rotates counterclockwise. 3:00 The sunshade rotates on its side.
Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "items": [ { "id": 429982, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093176, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This video shows different components of NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer). The damaged thermal shield is a flight spare used during the patch testing process.0:00 A NICER patch slowly rotates counterclockwise. 0:14 A top-down view of the same patch, still rotating. 0:21 Another side view of the patch rotating. A gloved hand enters from the right-hand side, picks up the patch, and turns it on its side. The patch begins rotating again, so the tab on the bottom becomes visible. 1:03 A gloved hand slowly tilts a damaged thermal shield. 1:41 The thermal shield rests in a container that slowly rotates. 2:08 A gloved hand rotates a NICER X-ray concentrator. 2:30The camera moves past the X-ray concentrator. 2:52 A hand places a NICER sunshade on the table. 2:58 The sunshade rotates counterclockwise. 3:00 The sunshade rotates on its side.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 1024, "height": 540, "pixels": 552960 } }, { "id": 429983, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093177, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.00001_searchweb.png", "filename": "Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.00001_searchweb.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This video shows different components of NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer). The damaged thermal shield is a flight spare used during the patch testing process.0:00 A NICER patch slowly rotates counterclockwise. 0:14 A top-down view of the same patch, still rotating. 0:21 Another side view of the patch rotating. A gloved hand enters from the right-hand side, picks up the patch, and turns it on its side. The patch begins rotating again, so the tab on the bottom becomes visible. 1:03 A gloved hand slowly tilts a damaged thermal shield. 1:41 The thermal shield rests in a container that slowly rotates. 2:08 A gloved hand rotates a NICER X-ray concentrator. 2:30The camera moves past the X-ray concentrator. 2:52 A hand places a NICER sunshade on the table. 2:58 The sunshade rotates counterclockwise. 3:00 The sunshade rotates on its side.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 429984, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093178, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.00001_thm.png", "filename": "Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.00001_thm.png", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This video shows different components of NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer). The damaged thermal shield is a flight spare used during the patch testing process.0:00 A NICER patch slowly rotates counterclockwise. 0:14 A top-down view of the same patch, still rotating. 0:21 Another side view of the patch rotating. A gloved hand enters from the right-hand side, picks up the patch, and turns it on its side. The patch begins rotating again, so the tab on the bottom becomes visible. 1:03 A gloved hand slowly tilts a damaged thermal shield. 1:41 The thermal shield rests in a container that slowly rotates. 2:08 A gloved hand rotates a NICER X-ray concentrator. 2:30The camera moves past the X-ray concentrator. 2:52 A hand places a NICER sunshade on the table. 2:58 The sunshade rotates counterclockwise. 3:00 The sunshade rotates on its side.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } }, { "id": 429974, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093168, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.mov", "filename": "Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This video shows different components of NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer). The damaged thermal shield is a flight spare used during the patch testing process.0:00 A NICER patch slowly rotates counterclockwise. 0:14 A top-down view of the same patch, still rotating. 0:21 Another side view of the patch rotating. A gloved hand enters from the right-hand side, picks up the patch, and turns it on its side. The patch begins rotating again, so the tab on the bottom becomes visible. 1:03 A gloved hand slowly tilts a damaged thermal shield. 1:41 The thermal shield rests in a container that slowly rotates. 2:08 A gloved hand rotates a NICER X-ray concentrator. 2:30The camera moves past the X-ray concentrator. 2:52 A hand places a NICER sunshade on the table. 2:58 The sunshade rotates counterclockwise. 3:00 The sunshade rotates on its side.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 4096, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8847360 } }, { "id": 429975, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093169, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.mp4", "filename": "Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This video shows different components of NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer). The damaged thermal shield is a flight spare used during the patch testing process.0:00 A NICER patch slowly rotates counterclockwise. 0:14 A top-down view of the same patch, still rotating. 0:21 Another side view of the patch rotating. A gloved hand enters from the right-hand side, picks up the patch, and turns it on its side. The patch begins rotating again, so the tab on the bottom becomes visible. 1:03 A gloved hand slowly tilts a damaged thermal shield. 1:41 The thermal shield rests in a container that slowly rotates. 2:08 A gloved hand rotates a NICER X-ray concentrator. 2:30The camera moves past the X-ray concentrator. 2:52 A hand places a NICER sunshade on the table. 2:58 The sunshade rotates counterclockwise. 3:00 The sunshade rotates on its side.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 4096, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8847360 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375079, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_375079", "widget": "Basic text with HTML", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) is an X-ray telescope on the International Space Station located near the starboard solar array.
In May 2023, it developed a “light leak,” where unwanted sunlight began entering the instrument. The leak is the result of damage to some of the thin thermal shields that cover the mission’s 56 X-ray concentrators, which focus X-rays onto the telescope’s detectors.
The damage allows sunlight to reach the detectors inside the telescope during the station’s daytime, saturating sensors and interfering with NICER’s X-ray measurements. The damage does not impact nighttime observations.
The NICER team developed a plan to cover the largest areas of damage using five patches, each shaped like a piece of pie, by inserting them into the instrument’s sunshades and locking them in place.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374585, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_374585", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This video shows the NICER patch locking mechanism.
0:00 A gloved hand holds a NICER patch. The bottom has a silver tab that is rotated so it sticks out from the side of the patch. The technician’s hand holds a tool. It rotates the tool, and the tab moves into its unlocked position. 0:15 The same actions repeat, but with the patch and tool angled 45 degrees from the camera. Then, the technician removes the tool from the patch, reinserts it, redeploys the tab, and removes the tool. 0:43 A NICER patch rests on a table. A technician’s hand enters from the right-hand side of the frame holding a tool. The tool is inserted into the hexagonal opening at the top of the patch. The technician picks up the patch using the tool and removes it from frame. A gloved hand then places a sunshade on the table. The tool and patch come back into frame. The patch is inserted into the sunshade, the tool rotates, and the tab deploys at the bottom of the sunshade. The tool is then removed from the frame. 1:43 A technician removes the locked patch from the sunshade and then re-inserts it. 2:45 A wider view of the same actions.
Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "items": [ { "id": 429985, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093179, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_-_Patch_locking_mechanism_-_Studio_Shoot_all.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "NICER_-_Patch_locking_mechanism_-_Studio_Shoot_all.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This video shows the NICER patch locking mechanism.0:00 A gloved hand holds a NICER patch. The bottom has a silver tab that is rotated so it sticks out from the side of the patch. The technician’s hand holds a tool. It rotates the tool, and the tab moves into its unlocked position. 0:15 The same actions repeat, but with the patch and tool angled 45 degrees from the camera. Then, the technician removes the tool from the patch, reinserts it, redeploys the tab, and removes the tool. 0:43 A NICER patch rests on a table. A technician’s hand enters from the right-hand side of the frame holding a tool. The tool is inserted into the hexagonal opening at the top of the patch. The technician picks up the patch using the tool and removes it from frame. A gloved hand then places a sunshade on the table. The tool and patch come back into frame. The patch is inserted into the sunshade, the tool rotates, and the tab deploys at the bottom of the sunshade. The tool is then removed from the frame. 1:43 A technician removes the locked patch from the sunshade and then re-inserts it. 2:45 A wider view of the same actions.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 1024, "height": 540, "pixels": 552960 } }, { "id": 430636, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093684, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_-_Patch_locking_mechanism_-_Studio_Shoot_all.webm", "filename": "NICER_-_Patch_locking_mechanism_-_Studio_Shoot_all.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This video shows the NICER patch locking mechanism.0:00 A gloved hand holds a NICER patch. The bottom has a silver tab that is rotated so it sticks out from the side of the patch. The technician’s hand holds a tool. It rotates the tool, and the tab moves into its unlocked position. 0:15 The same actions repeat, but with the patch and tool angled 45 degrees from the camera. Then, the technician removes the tool from the patch, reinserts it, redeploys the tab, and removes the tool. 0:43 A NICER patch rests on a table. A technician’s hand enters from the right-hand side of the frame holding a tool. The tool is inserted into the hexagonal opening at the top of the patch. The technician picks up the patch using the tool and removes it from frame. A gloved hand then places a sunshade on the table. The tool and patch come back into frame. The patch is inserted into the sunshade, the tool rotates, and the tab deploys at the bottom of the sunshade. The tool is then removed from the frame. 1:43 A technician removes the locked patch from the sunshade and then re-inserts it. 2:45 A wider view of the same actions.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 4096, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8847360 } }, { "id": 429976, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093170, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_-_Patch_locking_mechanism_-_Studio_Shoot_all.mp4", "filename": "NICER_-_Patch_locking_mechanism_-_Studio_Shoot_all.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This video shows the NICER patch locking mechanism.0:00 A gloved hand holds a NICER patch. The bottom has a silver tab that is rotated so it sticks out from the side of the patch. The technician’s hand holds a tool. It rotates the tool, and the tab moves into its unlocked position. 0:15 The same actions repeat, but with the patch and tool angled 45 degrees from the camera. Then, the technician removes the tool from the patch, reinserts it, redeploys the tab, and removes the tool. 0:43 A NICER patch rests on a table. A technician’s hand enters from the right-hand side of the frame holding a tool. The tool is inserted into the hexagonal opening at the top of the patch. The technician picks up the patch using the tool and removes it from frame. A gloved hand then places a sunshade on the table. The tool and patch come back into frame. The patch is inserted into the sunshade, the tool rotates, and the tab deploys at the bottom of the sunshade. The tool is then removed from the frame. 1:43 A technician removes the locked patch from the sunshade and then re-inserts it. 2:45 A wider view of the same actions.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 4096, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8847360 } }, { "id": 429977, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093171, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_-_Patch_locking_mechanism_-_Studio_Shoot_all.mov", "filename": "NICER_-_Patch_locking_mechanism_-_Studio_Shoot_all.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This video shows the NICER patch locking mechanism.0:00 A gloved hand holds a NICER patch. The bottom has a silver tab that is rotated so it sticks out from the side of the patch. The technician’s hand holds a tool. It rotates the tool, and the tab moves into its unlocked position. 0:15 The same actions repeat, but with the patch and tool angled 45 degrees from the camera. Then, the technician removes the tool from the patch, reinserts it, redeploys the tab, and removes the tool. 0:43 A NICER patch rests on a table. A technician’s hand enters from the right-hand side of the frame holding a tool. The tool is inserted into the hexagonal opening at the top of the patch. The technician picks up the patch using the tool and removes it from frame. A gloved hand then places a sunshade on the table. The tool and patch come back into frame. The patch is inserted into the sunshade, the tool rotates, and the tab deploys at the bottom of the sunshade. The tool is then removed from the frame. 1:43 A technician removes the locked patch from the sunshade and then re-inserts it. 2:45 A wider view of the same actions.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 4096, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8847360 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374586, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_374586", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This video shows all 12 NICER patches in their caddy, which is how astronauts will carry them during a spacewalk.
0:00 The camera pans back and forth across the caddy. 0:21 The caddy rotates counterclockwise. 0:35 The camera starts wide and then sweeps closer to the caddy. 0:50 The camera pans from one side of the caddy to the other. 0:58 The camera pans around the caddy in a wide show that reveals the edge of the white backdrop. 1:10 The camera shows a top-down view of the caddy, starting close and then pulling back slightly. 1:19 Gloved hands rotate a plastic box holding 20 NICER patches — the twelve that will go to the space station and eight flight spares. 1:33 Gloved hands lift the lid of the plastic box.
Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "items": [ { "id": 429986, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093180, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_-_All_patches_in_Caddy.00950_print.jpg", "filename": "NICER_-_All_patches_in_Caddy.00950_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This video shows all 12 NICER patches in their caddy, which is how astronauts will carry them during a spacewalk.0:00 The camera pans back and forth across the caddy. 0:21 The caddy rotates counterclockwise. 0:35 The camera starts wide and then sweeps closer to the caddy. 0:50 The camera pans from one side of the caddy to the other. 0:58 The camera pans around the caddy in a wide show that reveals the edge of the white backdrop. 1:10 The camera shows a top-down view of the caddy, starting close and then pulling back slightly. 1:19 Gloved hands rotate a plastic box holding 20 NICER patches — the twelve that will go to the space station and eight flight spares. 1:33 Gloved hands lift the lid of the plastic box.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 1024, "height": 540, "pixels": 552960 } }, { "id": 430637, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093685, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_-_All_patches_in_Caddy.webm", "filename": "NICER_-_All_patches_in_Caddy.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This video shows all 12 NICER patches in their caddy, which is how astronauts will carry them during a spacewalk.0:00 The camera pans back and forth across the caddy. 0:21 The caddy rotates counterclockwise. 0:35 The camera starts wide and then sweeps closer to the caddy. 0:50 The camera pans from one side of the caddy to the other. 0:58 The camera pans around the caddy in a wide show that reveals the edge of the white backdrop. 1:10 The camera shows a top-down view of the caddy, starting close and then pulling back slightly. 1:19 Gloved hands rotate a plastic box holding 20 NICER patches — the twelve that will go to the space station and eight flight spares. 1:33 Gloved hands lift the lid of the plastic box.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 4096, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8847360 } }, { "id": 429978, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093172, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_-_All_patches_in_Caddy.mov", "filename": "NICER_-_All_patches_in_Caddy.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This video shows all 12 NICER patches in their caddy, which is how astronauts will carry them during a spacewalk.0:00 The camera pans back and forth across the caddy. 0:21 The caddy rotates counterclockwise. 0:35 The camera starts wide and then sweeps closer to the caddy. 0:50 The camera pans from one side of the caddy to the other. 0:58 The camera pans around the caddy in a wide show that reveals the edge of the white backdrop. 1:10 The camera shows a top-down view of the caddy, starting close and then pulling back slightly. 1:19 Gloved hands rotate a plastic box holding 20 NICER patches — the twelve that will go to the space station and eight flight spares. 1:33 Gloved hands lift the lid of the plastic box.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 4096, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8847360 } }, { "id": 429979, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093173, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_-_All_patches_in_Caddy.mp4", "filename": "NICER_-_All_patches_in_Caddy.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This video shows all 12 NICER patches in their caddy, which is how astronauts will carry them during a spacewalk.0:00 The camera pans back and forth across the caddy. 0:21 The caddy rotates counterclockwise. 0:35 The camera starts wide and then sweeps closer to the caddy. 0:50 The camera pans from one side of the caddy to the other. 0:58 The camera pans around the caddy in a wide show that reveals the edge of the white backdrop. 1:10 The camera shows a top-down view of the caddy, starting close and then pulling back slightly. 1:19 Gloved hands rotate a plastic box holding 20 NICER patches — the twelve that will go to the space station and eight flight spares. 1:33 Gloved hands lift the lid of the plastic box.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 4096, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8847360 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374692, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_374692", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This image, obtained June 8, 2018, shows NASA’s NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) on the International Space Station, where it studies neutron stars and other X-ray sources. NICER, at center, is about the size of a washing machine. The sunshades of its X-ray concentrators are visible as an array of circular features.\r
\r
Credit: NASA\r
\r
Alt text: Photograph of NICER on the space station.\r
\r
Descriptive text: NICER, near the center of the image, is a white box with dozens of cylinders on one side, looking upward. Silver and white objects surround it. Two of the station’s giant solar panels appear in the background at left, tilted 45 degrees.", "items": [ { "id": 432502, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1095528, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICERTwist.jpg", "filename": "NICERTwist.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This image, obtained June 8, 2018, shows NASA’s NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) on the International Space Station, where it studies neutron stars and other X-ray sources. NICER, at center, is about the size of a washing machine. The sunshades of its X-ray concentrators are visible as an array of circular features.\r\rCredit: NASA\r\rAlt text: Photograph of NICER on the space station.\r\rDescriptive text: NICER, near the center of the image, is a white box with dozens of cylinders on one side, looking upward. Silver and white objects surround it. Two of the station’s giant solar panels appear in the background at left, tilted 45 degrees.", "width": 1920, "height": 1080, "pixels": 2073600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374693, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_374693", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi captured this view of NICER from a window in the Poisk Mini-Research Module 2 on the space station in July 2023. Photos like this one helped the mission team map the damage to the filters over NICER’s X-ray concentrators. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sultan Alneyadi\r
\r
Alt text: A zoomed-in photograph of NICER. \r
\r
Descriptive text: NICER’s X-ray concentrators take up most of this photograph. They appear as dark circles in eight staggered rows. Each is divided into six segments, like a sliced orange or pie, by the internal vanes of its sunshade. The concentrators rest in a white frame, the rest of the NICER telescope.", "items": [ { "id": 432540, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1095561, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/iss069e051526.jpg", "filename": "iss069e051526.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "UAE (United Arab Emirates) astronaut Sultan Alneyadi captured this view of NICER from a window in the Poisk Mini-Research Module 2 on the space station in July 2023. Photos like this one helped the mission team map the damage to the filters over NICER’s X-ray concentrators. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sultan Alneyadi\r\rAlt text: A zoomed-in photograph of NICER. \r\rDescriptive text: NICER’s X-ray concentrators take up most of this photograph. They appear as dark circles in eight staggered rows. Each is divided into six segments, like a sliced orange or pie, by the internal vanes of its sunshade. The concentrators rest in a white frame, the rest of the NICER telescope.", "width": 5568, "height": 3712, "pixels": 20668416 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374694, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_374694", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Zoom in of the above. Some of NICER’s damaged thermal shields (circled) are visible in this photograph.
Credit: NASA/Sultan Alneyadi
Alt text: A close-up photo of damage to NICER’s thermal shields.
Descriptive text: This photograph shows rows of cylindrical NICER sunshades. The outsides are white, and inside they’re black with multiple vanes that form six triangular sections — like a pie. Behind the cylinders are thin, shiny films called thermal shields. The photograph reveals they’re damaged in places, including one section where nested circular mirrors are visible. The damaged areas are circled.", "items": [ { "id": 432821, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1095813, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/DamageZoom_Annotated.jpg", "filename": "DamageZoom_Annotated.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Zoom in of the above. Some of NICER’s damaged thermal shields (circled) are visible in this photograph. Credit: NASA/Sultan Alneyadi Alt text: A close-up photo of damage to NICER’s thermal shields. Descriptive text: This photograph shows rows of cylindrical NICER sunshades. The outsides are white, and inside they’re black with multiple vanes that form six triangular sections — like a pie. Behind the cylinders are thin, shiny films called thermal shields. The photograph reveals they’re damaged in places, including one section where nested circular mirrors are visible. The damaged areas are circled.", "width": 1736, "height": 977, "pixels": 1696072 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374695, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_374695", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "An unlabeled version of the above.", "items": [ { "id": 432815, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1095807, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/DamageZoom.jpg", "filename": "DamageZoom.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "An unlabeled version of the above.", "width": 1736, "height": 977, "pixels": 1696072 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374772, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_374772", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NICER’s patches are made from aluminum and coated in black dye. Each is about 2 inches tall. “LCK” indicates the lock position for a tab at the bottom that will hold the patch in place. NASA is sending 12 of these patches to the International Space Station. During a spacewalk, astronauts will insert five into sunshades on the telescope to cover the most significant areas of damage. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: Photo of one of the NICER patches\r
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Descriptive text: Against a white backdrop, is a black wedge shaped like a piece of pie. The top extends slightly over the sides and has a silver screw at each corner, as well as a rounded triangular sticker that reads “Patch S/N 03” at the top and “LCK” at bottom left. Two black lines on the sticker extend from a hexagonal hole at the center, indicating how the wedge locks into place.", "items": [ { "id": 432816, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1095808, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_studio_-12.jpg", "filename": "NICER_studio_-12.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NICER’s patches are made from aluminum and coated in black dye. Each is about 2 inches tall. “LCK” indicates the lock position for a tab at the bottom that will hold the patch in place. NASA is sending 12 of these patches to the International Space Station. During a spacewalk, astronauts will insert five into sunshades on the telescope to cover the most significant areas of damage. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Photo of one of the NICER patches\r\rDescriptive text: Against a white backdrop, is a black wedge shaped like a piece of pie. The top extends slightly over the sides and has a silver screw at each corner, as well as a rounded triangular sticker that reads “Patch S/N 03” at the top and “LCK” at bottom left. Two black lines on the sticker extend from a hexagonal hole at the center, indicating how the wedge locks into place.", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374773, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_374773", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NICER’s patches will be inserted into its sunshades, as shown here. The small tab that locks the patch into place is visible beneath it. The carbon composite sunshades cover each of NICER’s 56 X-ray concentrators. \r
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Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
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Alt text: Photo of a NICER patch inserted into a sunshade. \r
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Descriptive text: This photograph shows a short cylinder. It’s white outside, and inside it’s black with multiple vanes that form six triangular sections — like a pie. In one of the bottom sections, a black triangular wedge has been inserted. Its top has a white sticker with black labels reading “Patch S/N 03” at the top and “LCK” at the bottom left. At the bottom of this wedge, a small silver tab sticks out from the underside of the cylinder. The cylinder has three gold-colored feet and rests against a white backdrop. ", "items": [ { "id": 432817, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1095809, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_studio_-10.jpg", "filename": "NICER_studio_-10.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NICER’s patches will be inserted into its sunshades, as shown here. The small tab that locks the patch into place is visible beneath it. The carbon composite sunshades cover each of NICER’s 56 X-ray concentrators. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Photo of a NICER patch inserted into a sunshade. \r\rDescriptive text: This photograph shows a short cylinder. It’s white outside, and inside it’s black with multiple vanes that form six triangular sections — like a pie. In one of the bottom sections, a black triangular wedge has been inserted. Its top has a white sticker with black labels reading “Patch S/N 03” at the top and “LCK” at the bottom left. At the bottom of this wedge, a small silver tab sticks out from the underside of the cylinder. The cylinder has three gold-colored feet and rests against a white backdrop. ", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374774, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_374774", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The NICER caddy is an aluminum box containing two of the mission’s spare sunshades, which are attached to the bottom. Inside the sunshades, 12 patches are locked into place. Astronauts will take the complete caddy assembly with them during a future spacewalk to address damage to NICER’s thermal shields. They’ll insert five of the patches over the largest areas of damage, which will allow the mission to return to a more normal operating status during the station’s daytime. \r
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Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
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Alt text: Photo of the NICER caddy.\r
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Descriptive text: This photograph shows the NICER caddy assembly against a white backdrop. The exterior is a shiny silver box with no lid. There is a sticker on the upper left-hand side that reads: “NICER Caddy P/N 2354970 S/N 1” with a bar code in the right-hand corner. Inside the box are two cylinders, each segmented into six sections like pies. Each section contains a black triangular wedge with a white label on top. ", "items": [ { "id": 432818, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1095810, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_studio_-20.jpg", "filename": "NICER_studio_-20.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The NICER caddy is an aluminum box containing two of the mission’s spare sunshades, which are attached to the bottom. Inside the sunshades, 12 patches are locked into place. Astronauts will take the complete caddy assembly with them during a future spacewalk to address damage to NICER’s thermal shields. They’ll insert five of the patches over the largest areas of damage, which will allow the mission to return to a more normal operating status during the station’s daytime. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Photo of the NICER caddy.\r\rDescriptive text: This photograph shows the NICER caddy assembly against a white backdrop. The exterior is a shiny silver box with no lid. There is a sticker on the upper left-hand side that reads: “NICER Caddy P/N 2354970 S/N 1” with a bar code in the right-hand corner. Inside the box are two cylinders, each segmented into six sections like pies. Each section contains a black triangular wedge with a white label on top. ", "width": 3452, "height": 4081, "pixels": 14087612 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374775, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_374775", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NICER’s thermal shields — the silver filter shown here — cover each of the mission’s 56 X-ray concentrators. They block ultraviolet, infrared, and visible light while allowing X-rays to pass through to the mirrors underneath. Each filter is only about 160 nanometers thick, or 500 times thinner than the width of a human hair. \r
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Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
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Alt text: Photo of a NICER thermal shield. \r
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Descriptive text: This photo shows what looks like a container for an old film reel against a white backdrop. The container is round and golden. The bottom half is propped up on the top half, so the interior is angled toward the camera. Housed in the center is a thin silver disk — one of NICER’s thermal shields. ", "items": [ { "id": 432819, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1095811, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_studio_-17.jpg", "filename": "NICER_studio_-17.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NICER’s thermal shields — the silver filter shown here — cover each of the mission’s 56 X-ray concentrators. They block ultraviolet, infrared, and visible light while allowing X-rays to pass through to the mirrors underneath. Each filter is only about 160 nanometers thick, or 500 times thinner than the width of a human hair. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Photo of a NICER thermal shield. \r\rDescriptive text: This photo shows what looks like a container for an old film reel against a white backdrop. The container is round and golden. The bottom half is propped up on the top half, so the interior is angled toward the camera. Housed in the center is a thin silver disk — one of NICER’s thermal shields. ", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375136, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/#media_group_375136", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NICER has 56 individual X-ray focusing elements, called concentrators, that each contain 24 nested mirrors. Every concentrator delivers X-rays to its own detector. The concentrator shown here is tilted on its side, so the camera is looking into the nested mirrors. X-rays are high-energy light, so they can pass through the atoms that make up most reflecting telescope mirrors. Instead, X-ray observatories use grazing incidence mirrors, where the surfaces are turned on their sides. X-rays skip across their surfaces and into detectors. \r
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Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
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Alt text: Photo of a NICER X-ray concentrator. \r
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Descriptive text: This photo shows a golden cylinder tilted on its side, so the camera looks down the middle. Towards the front, the cylinder is segmented by six golden spokes. Behind that, the cylinder looks like the interior of a halved golden onion, with nested circular layers. On the outside of the cylinder are three small circular attachments equally spaced.", "items": [ { "id": 432820, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1095812, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014603/NICER_studio_-26.jpg", "filename": "NICER_studio_-26.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NICER has 56 individual X-ray focusing elements, called concentrators, that each contain 24 nested mirrors. Every concentrator delivers X-rays to its own detector. The concentrator shown here is tilted on its side, so the camera is looking into the nested mirrors. X-rays are high-energy light, so they can pass through the atoms that make up most reflecting telescope mirrors. Instead, X-ray observatories use grazing incidence mirrors, where the surfaces are turned on their sides. X-rays skip across their surfaces and into detectors. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Photo of a NICER X-ray concentrator. \r\rDescriptive text: This photo shows a golden cylinder tilted on its side, so the camera looks down the middle. Towards the front, the cylinder is segmented by six golden spokes. Behind that, the cylinder looks like the interior of a halved golden onion, with nested circular layers. On the outside of the cylinder are three small circular attachments equally spaced.", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "PAO" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Videographer", "people": [ { "name": "Sophia Roberts", "employer": "Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc." }, { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "KBR Wyle Services, LLC" } ] }, { "role": "Science writer", "people": [ { "name": "Jeanette Kazmierczak", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] }, { "role": "Technical support", "people": [ { "name": "Aaron E. Lepsch", "employer": "ADNET Systems, Inc." } ] } ], "missions": [ "Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER)" ], "series": [], "tapes": [], "papers": [], "datasets": [], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Universe" ], "keywords": [ "Ast", "Astrophysics", "Goddard Space Flight Center", "Neutron Star", "NICER", "Pulsar", "Space", "Universe", "X-ray" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 14680, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Astronauts Prepare for NICER Repair Training", "description": "On May 16, 2024, astronauts Don Pettit and Nick Hague participated in a training exercise at the NBL (Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. They were rehearsing activities related to repairing NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer), an X-ray telescope on the International Space Station.Before any spacewalk, astronauts practice and refine procedures in the NBL to simulate — as closely as possible on Earth — the conditions under which they’ll complete the task in space.In May 2023, damage to thin thermal shields protecting NICER allowed sunlight to reach its sensitive X-ray detectors. This saturated sensors and interfered with NICER’s X-ray measurements during orbital daytime.The NICER team developed five wedge-shaped patches to cover the largest areas of damage. The plan calls for astronauts to insert these patches into the instrument’s sunshades and lock them in place. || ", "release_date": "2025-01-09T00:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2024-12-04T09:36:25.526341-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1139829, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/Astronauts_Hague_and_Pettit_introduced_to_NICER_Team-no_Audio.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "Astronauts_Hague_and_Pettit_introduced_to_NICER_Team-no_Audio.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This video shows astronauts Don Pettit and Nick Hague attending a so-called 1-G briefing to learn about their NBL tasks for the following day. Spacewalk flight controllers Lucas Widner (KBR) and Lauren Maples (KBR) led the meeting, with NICER team members Keith Gendreau, Steve Kenyon, Elizabeth Ferrara (Univ. Maryland, College Park), and Richard Koenecke (Adnet Systems, Inc.) in attendance. \r\r0:00 Hague, Pettit, Gendreau, Kenyon, Maples and Widner sit around a table and discuss the upcoming NBL tasks. 0:11 Closer shot of Hague and Pettit listening to the briefing. 0:24 Hague and Pettit examine mockups of the NICER patches, sunshades, and caddy under Widner’s direction. 0:33 View of the 1-G briefing from another angle, behind the seated row of NICER team members. 0:46 Hague holds a flight space of the NICER thermal shields. 1:08: Gendreau talks to Hague and Pettit about the damage to NICER’s thermal shields. 1:35 Shot of Hague’s hand holding a 3D model of the NICER telescope. 1:51 Widner talks about the repair process. 2:00 Shot of the NICER mockups and flight spares used in the 1-G briefing. 2:06: Kenyon uses the 3D NICER model to demonstrates how it moves on the space station. 2:40 Ferrara demonstrates how the team labeled the positions for the NICER patches by counting rows and columns on the 3D model. \r\rCredit: NASA/Robert Markowitz", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 14678, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14678/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Astronauts Practice NICER Repair", "description": "On May 16, 2024, astronauts Don Pettit and Nick Hague practiced a repair for NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer), an X-ray telescope on the International Space Station. The training exercise took place in the (NBL) Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.Before any spacewalk, astronauts rehearse activities in the NBL to simulate — as much as possible — the conditions under which they’ll complete the task in space.In May 2023, NICER developed a “light leak,” where unwanted sunlight began entering the instrument. The damage allows sunlight to reach the detectors during the station’s daytime, saturating sensors and interfering with NICER’s X-ray measurements. The damage does not impact nighttime observations.The NICER team developed a plan to cover the largest areas of damage using five patches, each shaped like a piece of pie, to be inserted into the instrument’s sunshades and locked in place. || ", "release_date": "2025-01-07T00:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2025-01-10T14:56:50.596641-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1102575, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014678/EV2-HAGUE_In_NBL_Pool.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "EV2-HAGUE_In_NBL_Pool.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Astronaut Nick Hague practices the NICER repair in the NBL at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston on May 16, 2024. He’s speaking with flight controller Lucas Widner. Also audible but not in frame is astronaut Don Pettit speaking with flight controller Derrick Porter. \r\r0:00 Widner confirms Hague is good to start the repair and reminds him to do a pull test on each patch. 0:21 Hague inserts the first patch into the NICER mockup as Porter gives instructions to the off-screen Pettit. 1:12 Hague inserts the second patch, completes a pull test, and then removes the tool. He confirms the procedure with Widner. Hague then removes the next patch from the caddy and checks the NICER diagram attached to his wrist. Pettit and Porter hold a brief conversation. 2:36 Hague inserts another patch and confirms he’s done a pull test. 3:05 Hague inserts another patch, confirms it’s locked, and announces there’s only one more to go. He talks with Widner about his positioning. \r\rCredit: NASA/NBL Dive Team", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 14679, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NICER Caddy Preparation", "description": "In Spring 2024, scientists and engineers at NASA prepared and packed a patch kit for NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer), an X-ray telescope on the International Space Station.In May 2023, damage to thin thermal shields protecting NICER allowed sunlight to reach its sensitive X-ray detectors. This saturated sensors and interfered with NICER’s measurements during orbital daytime.The NICER team designed five wedge-shaped patches to cover the largest areas of damage. The plan calls for astronauts to insert these patches into the instrument’s sunshades and lock them in place. || ", "release_date": "2024-12-13T00:00:00-05:00", "update_date": "2024-12-04T13:57:15.238336-05:00", "main_image": { "id": 1139840, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "In this video, Keith Gendreau, Steve Kenyon, Lucas Widner, Lauren Maples, and Christensen Hardcastle conduct tests on the NICER patch kit in a clean room at Goddard. \r\r0:00 Gendreau, Widner, Maples, and Hardcastle enter the clean room and begin to put on their clean suits. 0:20. Hardcastle examines the NICER caddy, which will hold the patches. He checks that the micro square fixture at the end fits different attachments found on an astronaut’s spacesuit. 0:44 Gendreau points out some features of the sunshades inside the caddy, which are flight spares from the NICER payload. 0:59 Widner checks that the caddy can be tethered to a spacesuit. 1:32 Hardcastle removes the tethers. 1:49 Widner explains to the NICER team how the tethers will be used during the spacewalk. 2:03 Hardcastle removes the tether again. 2:08 Widner checks that the T-handle tool can pick up, insert, and lock patches into the caddy. 2:33: Widner continues placing patches into the caddy. 2:41 Hardcastle checks the caddy and patches for sharp edges while wearing a special pair of gloves. 3:45 Shot of the T-handle tools on a lab bench. 3:51 Maples removes the caddy from its foam packing case and places it on the lab bench. 4:11 Widner shakes the caddy gently to check to see if there are any loose parts. 4:36 Widner flips the caddy upside down and shakes it again. 4:57 Widner inserts patches into the caddy using the T-handle tool. 5:33 Widner removes the patches from the caddy using a shorter version of the T-handle tool. He hands them to Hardcastle for a sharp-edge check, who then places them in the foam packing case. 6:05 A patch with the T-handle tool inserted rests on the lab bench. 6:10 Widner points out features of the T-handle tool. 6:18 Maples removes patches from the packing case and inserts them into the caddy. 6:44 Hardcastle examines the packing case and takes notes. 6:49 Slow motion shots of the team standing around the table with the caddy. 7:20 Slow motion shot of Widner shaking the caddy. 7:42 Slow motion shot of Kenyon and Gendreau looking at the patches assembled on the lab table. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 14609, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14609/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Anodizing NICER’s Patches", "description": "This video shows engineering technician Katrina Harvey anodizing NICER’s patches at the Plating Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.0:00 One of the NICER patch bodies hangs from a spiky stick by a wire. 0:05 Patch lids attached to a similar stick are seen submerged in a dark blue liquid. 0:07 Harvey lifts the lids and one patch body from a chemical bath and submerges them in a container of deionized water. 0:24 Several lids have been dyed black. 0:29 Harvey submerges the black lids into a chemical bath covered with white plastic balls. 0:42 Harvey lifts undyed patch bodies from a deionized water rinse. 0:47 Harvey lifts patch bodies from a chemical bath covered in white plastic balls and dunks them in deionized water. 1:07 A wider view of Harvey as she works on the patch bodies in the plating lab. 1:24 The patch bodies are shown submerged in a blue liquid. 1:28 A pan across patch bodies submerged in blue liquid. 1:34 Harvey lifts the patch bodies on their individual wires out of a well where nozzles spray them with deionized water. She then dunks them several times in a container of black dye. 1:54 She adds more patch bodies to the black dye. 2:22 She hangs the dyed bodies in a well where nozzles spray them with deionized water. 2:35 Harvey sprays the patches with deionized water. 2:40 Keith Gendreau (NASA), Steve Kenyon (NASA), and Isiah Holt (NASA) cluster together, looking at one of the dyed NICER patch bodies. 2:48 Harvey rinses dyed patch bodies. 2:58 Harvey holds several dyed patch bodies still on their wires. She lifts them and starts walking through the lab. 3:18 Gendreau and Kenyon help remove plugs from holes in the patch bodies. These protected screw threads during the anodizing process. 3:32: Someone dries one of the patch bodies with compressed air. 3:42 The dyed patch bodies rest on a table. 3:58 Close-ups of various features of the lab, like labels, knobs, readouts, buttons, clamps, and wires.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger || Anondizing_Patches_at_4k.00001_print.jpg (1024x576) [72.4 KB] || Anondizing_Patches_at_4k.00001_searchweb.png (320x180) [61.0 KB] || Anondizing_Patches_at_4k.00001_thm.png (80x40) [5.0 KB] || Anondizing_Patches_at_4k.webm (3840x2160) [99.1 MB] || Anondizing_Patches_at_4k.mp4 (3840x2160) [2.5 GB] || Anondizing_Patches_at_4k_ProRes.mov (3840x2160) [18.3 GB] || ", "release_date": "2024-07-30T12:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2024-06-28T16:05:31.420906-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1093979, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014609/Anondizing_Patches_at_4k.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "Anondizing_Patches_at_4k.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This video shows engineering technician Katrina Harvey anodizing NICER’s patches at the Plating Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.0:00 One of the NICER patch bodies hangs from a spiky stick by a wire. 0:05 Patch lids attached to a similar stick are seen submerged in a dark blue liquid. 0:07 Harvey lifts the lids and one patch body from a chemical bath and submerges them in a container of deionized water. 0:24 Several lids have been dyed black. 0:29 Harvey submerges the black lids into a chemical bath covered with white plastic balls. 0:42 Harvey lifts undyed patch bodies from a deionized water rinse. 0:47 Harvey lifts patch bodies from a chemical bath covered in white plastic balls and dunks them in deionized water. 1:07 A wider view of Harvey as she works on the patch bodies in the plating lab. 1:24 The patch bodies are shown submerged in a blue liquid. 1:28 A pan across patch bodies submerged in blue liquid. 1:34 Harvey lifts the patch bodies on their individual wires out of a well where nozzles spray them with deionized water. She then dunks them several times in a container of black dye. 1:54 She adds more patch bodies to the black dye. 2:22 She hangs the dyed bodies in a well where nozzles spray them with deionized water. 2:35 Harvey sprays the patches with deionized water. 2:40 Keith Gendreau (NASA), Steve Kenyon (NASA), and Isiah Holt (NASA) cluster together, looking at one of the dyed NICER patch bodies. 2:48 Harvey rinses dyed patch bodies. 2:58 Harvey holds several dyed patch bodies still on their wires. She lifts them and starts walking through the lab. 3:18 Gendreau and Kenyon help remove plugs from holes in the patch bodies. These protected screw threads during the anodizing process. 3:32: Someone dries one of the patch bodies with compressed air. 3:42 The dyed patch bodies rest on a table. 3:58 Close-ups of various features of the lab, like labels, knobs, readouts, buttons, clamps, and wires.Credit:NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 14610, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14610/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Machining NICER’s Patches", "description": "This video shows Richard Koenecke, an engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, creating the body of one of the NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) patches.0:00 Two blocks of aluminum sit on a counter in front of a laptop that displays the schematics for the NICER patches. 0:06 Koenecke puts one block on the bed of a saw littered with metal shavings and then trims the block. 0:23 Koenecke sands down the block’s rough edges. 0:30 Koenecke walks into another part of his workshop. 0:37 Koenecke preps the machining chamber. 0:49 Inside the chamber, the machine starts to carve out the shape of the patch. Fluid sprayed from the nozzles above the tool helps cool the metal. 0:56 Koenecke looks into the chamber. 0:59 The chamber is shown at different angles. 1:15 Koenecke walking up to the chamber window. 1:22 Inside the chamber, the patch’s shape is now visible amidst a sea of aluminum shavings. 1:25 The cutting tool refines the shape of the patch. 1:40 Koenecke looks at a computer readout for the machining chamber. 1:45 Inside the chamber, the cutting tool lowers to hollow out the patch. 1:56 Koenecke holds and turns a block of the aluminum. 2:45 Koenecke’s dog Sara guards his shop on the Eastern Shore. 2:53 Koenecke sands a block of aluminum. 3:01 He closes the doors to the machining chamber and adjusts the settings on a computer screen. 3:10 Numbers change on the chamber’s computer screen. 3:31 Koenecke holds and turns the fully machined patch body. 3:51 In slow motion, Koenecke walking through his shop. 4:25 In slow motion, Koenecke holds the patch in close-up shots.Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger || Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.03720_print.jpg (1024x576) [111.0 KB] || Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.03720_searchweb.png (320x180) [82.6 KB] || Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.03720_thm.png (80x40) [6.8 KB] || Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.webm (3840x2160) [74.7 MB] || Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.mp4 (3840x2160) [2.5 GB] || Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1_ProRes.mov (3840x2160) [18.0 GB] || ", "release_date": "2024-07-30T12:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2024-06-28T14:03:32.201843-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1093765, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.03720_print.jpg", "filename": "Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.03720_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This video shows Richard Koenecke, an engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, creating the body of one of the NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) patches.0:00 Two blocks of aluminum sit on a counter in front of a laptop that displays the schematics for the NICER patches. 0:06 Koenecke puts one block on the bed of a saw littered with metal shavings and then trims the block. 0:23 Koenecke sands down the block’s rough edges. 0:30 Koenecke walks into another part of his workshop. 0:37 Koenecke preps the machining chamber. 0:49 Inside the chamber, the machine starts to carve out the shape of the patch. Fluid sprayed from the nozzles above the tool helps cool the metal. 0:56 Koenecke looks into the chamber. 0:59 The chamber is shown at different angles. 1:15 Koenecke walking up to the chamber window. 1:22 Inside the chamber, the patch’s shape is now visible amidst a sea of aluminum shavings. 1:25 The cutting tool refines the shape of the patch. 1:40 Koenecke looks at a computer readout for the machining chamber. 1:45 Inside the chamber, the cutting tool lowers to hollow out the patch. 1:56 Koenecke holds and turns a block of the aluminum. 2:45 Koenecke’s dog Sara guards his shop on the Eastern Shore. 2:53 Koenecke sands a block of aluminum. 3:01 He closes the doors to the machining chamber and adjusts the settings on a computer screen. 3:10 Numbers change on the chamber’s computer screen. 3:31 Koenecke holds and turns the fully machined patch body. 3:51 In slow motion, Koenecke walking through his shop. 4:25 In slow motion, Koenecke holds the patch in close-up shots.Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }