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", "items": [ { "id": 430727, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "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. 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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": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } }, { "id": 430726, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093764, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.webm", "filename": "Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "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": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 430718, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093756, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1_ProRes.mov", "filename": "Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1_ProRes.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "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": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 430719, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093757, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.mp4", "filename": "Machine_Shop_B-roll_-_Part_1.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "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": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375081, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14610/#media_group_375081", "widget": "Basic text with HTML", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "In Spring 2024, Richard Koenecke, an engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, created patches for NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) in his workshop in Greensboro, Maryland. The patches are made from solid blocks of aluminum that Koenecke whittled down and hollowed out using specialized equipment.
NICER 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 these patches, each shaped like a piece of pie, inserting them into the sunshades and locking them in place.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374707, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14610/#media_group_374707", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "This slow-motion video compilation shows Richard Koenecke working on a NICER patch in his machine shop.
0:00 Pan along the main machining chamber’s computer screen. 0:03 Koenecke watches the chamber as the cutter inside begins to shape a patch from a block of aluminum. 0:18 Koenecke’s hand makes an adjustment on the chamber’s computer. 0:26 Koenecke cleans up a partially machined patch inside the chamber. 0:42 Outside of the machining chamber hangs a clipboard with a schematic of the NICER patch. 0:50 The camera’s focus gradually shifts from the outside to the inside of the chamber. 1:03 Inside the chamber, the mill begins to hollow out the patch. 1:23 Numbers fluctuate on the chamber computer. 1:33 Koenecke holds the hollowed patch. 1:54 Koenecke enters the shop.
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "items": [ { "id": 430730, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093768, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/Machine_Shop_B-roll_Part_2_Slow_Motion.00120_print.jpg", "filename": "Machine_Shop_B-roll_Part_2_Slow_Motion.00120_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "This slow-motion video compilation shows Richard Koenecke working on a NICER patch in his machine shop.0:00 Pan along the main machining chamber’s computer screen. 0:03 Koenecke watches the chamber as the cutter inside begins to shape a patch from a block of aluminum. 0:18 Koenecke’s hand makes an adjustment on the chamber’s computer. 0:26 Koenecke cleans up a partially machined patch inside the chamber. 0:42 Outside of the machining chamber hangs a clipboard with a schematic of the NICER patch. 0:50 The camera’s focus gradually shifts from the outside to the inside of the chamber. 1:03 Inside the chamber, the mill begins to hollow out the patch. 1:23 Numbers fluctuate on the chamber computer. 1:33 Koenecke holds the hollowed patch. 1:54 Koenecke enters the shop.Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "id": 430731, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093769, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/Machine_Shop_B-roll_Part_2_Slow_Motion.webm", "filename": "Machine_Shop_B-roll_Part_2_Slow_Motion.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This slow-motion video compilation shows Richard Koenecke working on a NICER patch in his machine shop.0:00 Pan along the main machining chamber’s computer screen. 0:03 Koenecke watches the chamber as the cutter inside begins to shape a patch from a block of aluminum. 0:18 Koenecke’s hand makes an adjustment on the chamber’s computer. 0:26 Koenecke cleans up a partially machined patch inside the chamber. 0:42 Outside of the machining chamber hangs a clipboard with a schematic of the NICER patch. 0:50 The camera’s focus gradually shifts from the outside to the inside of the chamber. 1:03 Inside the chamber, the mill begins to hollow out the patch. 1:23 Numbers fluctuate on the chamber computer. 1:33 Koenecke holds the hollowed patch. 1:54 Koenecke enters the shop.Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 430720, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093758, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/Machine_Shop_B-roll_Part_2_Slow_Motion.mp4", "filename": "Machine_Shop_B-roll_Part_2_Slow_Motion.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This slow-motion video compilation shows Richard Koenecke working on a NICER patch in his machine shop.0:00 Pan along the main machining chamber’s computer screen. 0:03 Koenecke watches the chamber as the cutter inside begins to shape a patch from a block of aluminum. 0:18 Koenecke’s hand makes an adjustment on the chamber’s computer. 0:26 Koenecke cleans up a partially machined patch inside the chamber. 0:42 Outside of the machining chamber hangs a clipboard with a schematic of the NICER patch. 0:50 The camera’s focus gradually shifts from the outside to the inside of the chamber. 1:03 Inside the chamber, the mill begins to hollow out the patch. 1:23 Numbers fluctuate on the chamber computer. 1:33 Koenecke holds the hollowed patch. 1:54 Koenecke enters the shop.Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 430724, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093762, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/Machine_Shop_B-roll_Part_2_Slow_Motion_ProRes.mov", "filename": "Machine_Shop_B-roll_Part_2_Slow_Motion_ProRes.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "alt_text": "This slow-motion video compilation shows Richard Koenecke working on a NICER patch in his machine shop.0:00 Pan along the main machining chamber’s computer screen. 0:03 Koenecke watches the chamber as the cutter inside begins to shape a patch from a block of aluminum. 0:18 Koenecke’s hand makes an adjustment on the chamber’s computer. 0:26 Koenecke cleans up a partially machined patch inside the chamber. 0:42 Outside of the machining chamber hangs a clipboard with a schematic of the NICER patch. 0:50 The camera’s focus gradually shifts from the outside to the inside of the chamber. 1:03 Inside the chamber, the mill begins to hollow out the patch. 1:23 Numbers fluctuate on the chamber computer. 1:33 Koenecke holds the hollowed patch. 1:54 Koenecke enters the shop.Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "width": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374708, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14610/#media_group_374708", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NASA Goddard engineer Richard Koenecke holds a NICER patch body in his machine shop in Greensboro, Maryland. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: Photo of a man holding a hollow triangular silver wedge.\r
\r
Descriptive text: A man in a green plaid shirt, black apron, and black baseball cap holds a shiny silver triangular wedge in front of him with one hand. The wedge is hollow. The man is centered in the frame, and behind him are blue and gray pieces of equipment.", "items": [ { "id": 430721, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093759, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/NICER_MachineShop-17.jpg", "filename": "NICER_MachineShop-17.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NASA Goddard engineer Richard Koenecke holds a NICER patch body in his machine shop in Greensboro, Maryland. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Photo of a man holding a hollow triangular silver wedge.\r\rDescriptive text: A man in a green plaid shirt, black apron, and black baseball cap holds a shiny silver triangular wedge in front of him with one hand. The wedge is hollow. The man is centered in the frame, and behind him are blue and gray pieces of equipment.", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374710, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14610/#media_group_374710", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "A mill in Koenecke’s machine shop hollows out a NICER patch body. A coolant fluid is sprayed onto the mill-bit to keep it from getting too hot. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: Photo of a piece of machinery. \r
\r
Descriptive text: A mill-bit whirls in this photo. It extends from the top of the frame and has several nozzle attachments that spray the mill-bit with a tannish fluid. The mill is carving out the inside of a triangular block of aluminum held in a clamp. The interior of the milling-machine chamber is littered with aluminum shavings. ", "items": [ { "id": 430723, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093761, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/NICER_MachineShop-11.jpg", "filename": "NICER_MachineShop-11.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A mill in Koenecke’s machine shop hollows out a NICER patch body. A coolant fluid is sprayed onto the mill-bit to keep it from getting too hot. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Photo of a piece of machinery. \r\rDescriptive text: A mill-bit whirls in this photo. It extends from the top of the frame and has several nozzle attachments that spray the mill-bit with a tannish fluid. The mill is carving out the inside of a triangular block of aluminum held in a clamp. The interior of the milling-machine chamber is littered with aluminum shavings. ", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374711, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14610/#media_group_374711", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Koenecke reaches into a machining chamber to remove a NICER patch that has just been carved from a block of aluminum. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: Photo of a man with his hand extended into a machine chamber. \r
\r
Descriptive text: A man in a green plaid shirt, black apron, and black baseball cap reaches with one arm into a machining chamber. The chamber has a sliding door with windows and the walls lean inward toward a mill that’s been retracted to the ceiling. The mill is a motorized spindle surrounded by several orange coolant nozzles pointed at the bit. It’s next to a set of nested black cylinders holding additional tools. On the base of the chamber is a clamp holding a triangular wedge of aluminum. The wedge is surrounded by metal shavings. ", "items": [ { "id": 430725, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093763, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/NICER_MachineShop-09.jpg", "filename": "NICER_MachineShop-09.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Koenecke reaches into a machining chamber to remove a NICER patch that has just been carved from a block of aluminum. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Photo of a man with his hand extended into a machine chamber. \r\rDescriptive text: A man in a green plaid shirt, black apron, and black baseball cap reaches with one arm into a machining chamber. The chamber has a sliding door with windows and the walls lean inward toward a mill that’s been retracted to the ceiling. The mill is a motorized spindle surrounded by several orange coolant nozzles pointed at the bit. It’s next to a set of nested black cylinders holding additional tools. On the base of the chamber is a clamp holding a triangular wedge of aluminum. The wedge is surrounded by metal shavings. ", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 374767, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14610/#media_group_374767", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The body of a NICER patch rests amid a sea of aluminum shavings after a mill carved it from a block of aluminum. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Scott Wiessinger\r
\r
Alt text: Photo of a metal wedge in a pile of metal shavings. \r
\r
Descriptive text: This vertical photo centers a triangular wedge of shiny aluminum. It’s surrounded by gray metal shavings, some of which cling to its edges. Several screws extend from the edge of the platform the wedge rests on. The background shows a tan metal wall. ", "items": [ { "id": 431026, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1093974, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014610/NICER_MachineShop-01.jpg", "filename": "NICER_MachineShop-01.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The body of a NICER patch rests amid a sea of aluminum shavings after a mill carved it from a block of aluminum. \r\rCredit: NASA/Scott Wiessinger\r\rAlt text: Photo of a metal wedge in a pile of metal shavings. \r\rDescriptive text: This vertical photo centers a triangular wedge of shiny aluminum. It’s surrounded by gray metal shavings, some of which cling to its edges. Several screws extend from the edge of the platform the wedge rests on. The background shows a tan metal wall. ", "width": 5464, "height": 8192, "pixels": 44761088 } } ], "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", "ISS", "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": 14603, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14603/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "NICER Hardware and Patch Kit", "description": "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 || Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.00001_print.jpg (1024x540) [16.9 KB] || Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.00001_searchweb.png (320x180) [23.1 KB] || Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.00001_thm.png (80x40) [2.1 KB] || Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.mp4 (4096x2160) [1.9 GB] || Studio_Shoot_Single_Components.mov (4096x2160) [12.7 GB] || ", "release_date": "2024-07-30T12:00:00-04:00", "update_date": "2024-07-30T13:13:23.731322-04:00", "main_image": { "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": 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 } } ], "sources": [], "products": [], "newer_versions": [], "older_versions": [], "alternate_versions": [] }