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.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375662, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375662", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NICER’s mechanical engineering lead Steve Kenyon holds one of the mission’s fully assembled patches in a lab at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The labels on the patch read “Patch S/N 17” at the top and “LCK” at the bottom. At the base of the patch, the tab that will lock it into place is visible. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: A man holds a black triangular wedge with a white sticker on the top. \r
\r
Image description: A man wearing blue gloves holds a black triangular wedge with a white sticker on the front. The sticker on the lid reads “Patch S/N 17” at the top and “LCK” at the bottom. The man rests his elbows on a desk cluttered with tools and other items. The background shows a lab space filled with tool cabinets and other odds and ends.", "items": [ { "id": 441353, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098265, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_Fit_check-2.jpg", "filename": "NICER_Fit_check-2.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NICER’s mechanical engineering lead Steve Kenyon holds one of the mission’s fully assembled patches in a lab at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The labels on the patch read “Patch S/N 17” at the top and “LCK” at the bottom. At the base of the patch, the tab that will lock it into place is visible. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: A man holds a black triangular wedge with a white sticker on the top. \r\rImage description: A man wearing blue gloves holds a black triangular wedge with a white sticker on the front. The sticker on the lid reads “Patch S/N 17” at the top and “LCK” at the bottom. The man rests his elbows on a desk cluttered with tools and other items. The background shows a lab space filled with tool cabinets and other odds and ends.", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375663, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375663", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "The NICER patches are inserted into a caddy — a rectangular aluminum frame that houses two of the mission’s spare sunshades — in a lab at Goddard. The sunshades each hold six patches. An astronaut will take the full caddy with them during the repair and insert five patches into the sunshades on NICER to cover up the most damaged areas. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: The NICER patches rest in their caddy. \r
\r
Image description: At the center of this photograph is a shiny, gray, rectangular frame. Inside the frame are two circles segmented into sixths. Each circle contains six triangular black wedges with stickers on the top. The stickers are labeled: “Patch S/N” followed by a number at the top and “LCK” at the bottom. The frame rests on a table on top of a paper towel. Plastic bags, tools, and other odds and ends are clustered on either side of the paper towel. In the upper left-hand corner, a blue-gloved hand rests on the desk and holds a shiny gray tool. A pair of legs is seen top of frame, beyond the edge of the table.", "items": [ { "id": 441354, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098266, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_Fit_check-4.jpg", "filename": "NICER_Fit_check-4.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "The NICER patches are inserted into a caddy — a rectangular aluminum frame that houses two of the mission’s spare sunshades — in a lab at Goddard. The sunshades each hold six patches. An astronaut will take the full caddy with them during the repair and insert five patches into the sunshades on NICER to cover up the most damaged areas. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: The NICER patches rest in their caddy. \r\rImage description: At the center of this photograph is a shiny, gray, rectangular frame. Inside the frame are two circles segmented into sixths. Each circle contains six triangular black wedges with stickers on the top. The stickers are labeled: “Patch S/N” followed by a number at the top and “LCK” at the bottom. The frame rests on a table on top of a paper towel. Plastic bags, tools, and other odds and ends are clustered on either side of the paper towel. In the upper left-hand corner, a blue-gloved hand rests on the desk and holds a shiny gray tool. A pair of legs is seen top of frame, beyond the edge of the table.", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375664, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375664", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Keith Gendreau, NICER’s principal investigator, conducts a “fit check” for the mission’s patch kit in a lab at Goddard. He inserts all 12 patches into the caddy, ensuring they fit securely and can be removed smoothly. Astronauts will install five of the patches during a spacewalk. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: A man holds a cylindrical tool in a lab. \r
\r
Image description: A man in a green shirt holds a cylindrical tool in one hand. He’s looking down at a gray rectangular frame. Inside the frame are two circles, each segmented into sixths. The man is inserting black wedges into the segments. The wedges have white stickers on top. The frame rests on a table cluttered with plastic bags and other odds and ends. The background shows a busy out-of-focus lab space.", "items": [ { "id": 441355, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098267, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_Fit_check-6.jpg", "filename": "NICER_Fit_check-6.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Keith Gendreau, NICER’s principal investigator, conducts a “fit check” for the mission’s patch kit in a lab at Goddard. He inserts all 12 patches into the caddy, ensuring they fit securely and can be removed smoothly. Astronauts will install five of the patches during a spacewalk. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: A man holds a cylindrical tool in a lab. \r\rImage description: A man in a green shirt holds a cylindrical tool in one hand. He’s looking down at a gray rectangular frame. Inside the frame are two circles, each segmented into sixths. The man is inserting black wedges into the segments. The wedges have white stickers on top. The frame rests on a table cluttered with plastic bags and other odds and ends. The background shows a busy out-of-focus lab space.", "width": 3460, "height": 4560, "pixels": 15777600 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375665, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375665", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Engineers check that astronauts will be able to latch the NICER caddy to their spacesuits in a clean room at Goddard. Christensen Hardcastle clips two metal latches to a hole in the NICER caddy. In the background, from left to right, Lucas Widner (KBR Wyle), Steve Kenyon, Keith Gendreau, and Lauren Maples (KBR Wyle) look on. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: Engineers work on the NICER patch kit. \r
\r
Image description: A man in a blue lab coat and blue gloves connects two tether hooks to a small gray metal box. He’s wearing glasses and hairnets over his head and mouth. The metal box rests on a gray table in a small clean room. Four figures, dressed similarly, look on in the background. Behind them heavy plastic sheets hang from the ceiling.", "items": [ { "id": 441356, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098204, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_WhiteGloveTest-1.jpg", "filename": "NICER_WhiteGloveTest-1.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Engineers check that astronauts will be able to latch the NICER caddy to their spacesuits in a clean room at Goddard. Christensen Hardcastle clips two metal latches to a hole in the NICER caddy. In the background, from left to right, Lucas Widner (KBR Wyle), Steve Kenyon, Keith Gendreau, and Lauren Maples (KBR Wyle) look on. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Engineers work on the NICER patch kit. \r\rImage description: A man in a blue lab coat and blue gloves connects two tether hooks to a small gray metal box. He’s wearing glasses and hairnets over his head and mouth. The metal box rests on a gray table in a small clean room. Four figures, dressed similarly, look on in the background. Behind them heavy plastic sheets hang from the ceiling.", "width": 8192, "height": 5464, "pixels": 44761088 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375666, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375666", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "A closer view of the above. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: Engineers working on the NICER patch kit. \r
\r
Image description: A man in a blue lab coat and blue gloves connects two heavy metal latches to a small gray metal box. Only his torso, arms, and hands are in frame. The metal box rests on a paper towel on a gray table in a small clean room. Two figures, dressed similarly, look on in the background.", "items": [ { "id": 441357, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098268, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_WhiteGloveTest-2.jpg", "filename": "NICER_WhiteGloveTest-2.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A closer view of the above. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Engineers working on the NICER patch kit. \r\rImage description: A man in a blue lab coat and blue gloves connects two heavy metal latches to a small gray metal box. Only his torso, arms, and hands are in frame. The metal box rests on a paper towel on a gray table in a small clean room. Two figures, dressed similarly, look on in the background.", "width": 8192, "height": 5464, "pixels": 44761088 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375667, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375667", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Maples, a spacewalk flight controler from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houson, uses a T-handle tool on a patch in the NICER caddy to ensure all 12 can be inserted and removed smoothly. The tool is part of the existing astronaut toolkit on the space station, and the NICER patches were designed to fit its specifications. The so-called fit check was conducted in a clean room at Goddard. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: A woman uses a T-shaped tool in a lab. \r
\r
Image description: A woman in a blue lab coat, blue gloves, and a hairnet adjusts a T-shaped tool. The bottom of the tool is inserted into the top of a black wedge. The wedge is one of five in a circular structure. Two of the circular structures sit inside a gray metal box. This is the NICER caddy. The caddy rests on a table in a cleanroom. Three figures, also in labcoats, gloves, and hairnets, look on. ", "items": [ { "id": 441358, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098206, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_WhiteGloveTest-7.jpg", "filename": "NICER_WhiteGloveTest-7.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Maples, a spacewalk flight controler from NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houson, uses a T-handle tool on a patch in the NICER caddy to ensure all 12 can be inserted and removed smoothly. The tool is part of the existing astronaut toolkit on the space station, and the NICER patches were designed to fit its specifications. The so-called fit check was conducted in a clean room at Goddard. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: A woman uses a T-shaped tool in a lab. \r\rImage description: A woman in a blue lab coat, blue gloves, and a hairnet adjusts a T-shaped tool. The bottom of the tool is inserted into the top of a black wedge. The wedge is one of five in a circular structure. Two of the circular structures sit inside a gray metal box. This is the NICER caddy. The caddy rests on a table in a cleanroom. Three figures, also in labcoats, gloves, and hairnets, look on. ", "width": 3648, "height": 5472, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375682, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375682", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Gendreau cleans the empty NICER caddy in a cleanroom at Goddard. He looks for remaining detritus with a blacklight. The attachment at the end of the caddy is called the micro square fixture. It’s one of the ways an astronaut can attach the caddy to their spacesuit. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Scott Wiessinger\r
\r
Alt text: A man cleans a metal box in a lab. \r
\r
Image description: A man leans over a gray metal box in a lab. He’s wearing a blue lab coat, blue gloves, glasses, and hairnets over his mouth and head. In one hand, he holds a white swab. In the other, he holds a blacklight. He peers into the interior of the box.", "items": [ { "id": 441359, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098269, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_WhiteGloveTest-10.jpg", "filename": "NICER_WhiteGloveTest-10.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Gendreau cleans the empty NICER caddy in a cleanroom at Goddard. He looks for remaining detritus with a blacklight. The attachment at the end of the caddy is called the micro square fixture. It’s one of the ways an astronaut can attach the caddy to their spacesuit. \r\rCredit: NASA/Scott Wiessinger\r\rAlt text: A man cleans a metal box in a lab. \r\rImage description: A man leans over a gray metal box in a lab. He’s wearing a blue lab coat, blue gloves, glasses, and hairnets over his mouth and head. In one hand, he holds a white swab. In the other, he holds a blacklight. He peers into the interior of the box.", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375683, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375683", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "One NICER patch sits in the kit’s packing case in a cleanroom at Goddard. Each patch was cleaned and then wrapped in a plastic bag before being packed in to the case. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Scott Wiessinger\r
\r
Alt text: A NICER patch in a packing case. \r
\r
Image description: A rectangular white foam case rests on a gray table. Twelve roughly triangular sections have been cut out of the interior of the foam. One black wedge with a white label has been inserted into one of the cutouts. Another block of foam is attached along the long end by two straps. Also on the table is a white cloth and a cleaning swab.", "items": [ { "id": 441360, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098270, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_WhiteGloveTest-11.jpg", "filename": "NICER_WhiteGloveTest-11.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "One NICER patch sits in the kit’s packing case in a cleanroom at Goddard. Each patch was cleaned and then wrapped in a plastic bag before being packed in to the case. \r\rCredit: NASA/Scott Wiessinger\r\rAlt text: A NICER patch in a packing case. \r\rImage description: A rectangular white foam case rests on a gray table. Twelve roughly triangular sections have been cut out of the interior of the foam. One black wedge with a white label has been inserted into one of the cutouts. Another block of foam is attached along the long end by two straps. Also on the table is a white cloth and a cleaning swab.", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375684, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375684", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Kenyon and Gendreau place the caddy in a plastic bag before adding it to the packing case in a cleanroom at Goddard. This is the last time the patch kit will be handled before it’s unpacked by astronauts on the space station. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: Two men in a lab. \r
\r
Image description: Two men in blue lab coats, blue gloves, and nets over their mouths and heads stand in a lab. The man on the right wears yellow blacklight glasses. He’s putting a gray metal rectangle into a clear plastic bag. The other man watches.", "items": [ { "id": 441361, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098271, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_WhiteGloveTest-14.jpg", "filename": "NICER_WhiteGloveTest-14.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Kenyon and Gendreau place the caddy in a plastic bag before adding it to the packing case in a cleanroom at Goddard. This is the last time the patch kit will be handled before it’s unpacked by astronauts on the space station. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Two men in a lab. \r\rImage description: Two men in blue lab coats, blue gloves, and nets over their mouths and heads stand in a lab. The man on the right wears yellow blacklight glasses. He’s putting a gray metal rectangle into a clear plastic bag. The other man watches.", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375685, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375685", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Gendreau and Kenyon pack the caddy into the foam case in a cleanroom at Goddard. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r
\r
Alt text: Two men in a lab. \r
\r
Image description: Two men in blue lab coats, blue gloves, and hair and beard nets stand in a lab. One man leans on a table, pressing a hand to the top of a gray rectangle snuggly packed in a white foam box. The other man, wearing yellow blacklight glasses, looks at something out of frame and rests his hands on the table.", "items": [ { "id": 441362, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098272, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_WhiteGloveTest-15.jpg", "filename": "NICER_WhiteGloveTest-15.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Gendreau and Kenyon pack the caddy into the foam case in a cleanroom at Goddard. \r\rCredit: NASA/Sophia Roberts\r\rAlt text: Two men in a lab. \r\rImage description: Two men in blue lab coats, blue gloves, and hair and beard nets stand in a lab. One man leans on a table, pressing a hand to the top of a gray rectangle snuggly packed in a white foam box. The other man, wearing yellow blacklight glasses, looks at something out of frame and rests his hands on the table.", "width": 5472, "height": 3648, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375686, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375686", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Kenyon examines a NICER patch using a blacklight in a cleanroom at Goddard. \r
\r
Credit: NASA/Scott Wiessinger\r
\r
Alt text: A man in a dark lab uses a blacklight. \r
\r
Image description: A man in a lab coat, gloves, and hairnets over his mouth and head looks at a black wedge with a black light. The room is dark, but red light filters in from windows in the background. The man wears safety glasses.", "items": [ { "id": 441363, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098273, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/NICER_WhiteGloveTest-17.jpg", "filename": "NICER_WhiteGloveTest-17.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Kenyon examines a NICER patch using a blacklight in a cleanroom at Goddard. \r\rCredit: NASA/Scott Wiessinger\r\rAlt text: A man in a dark lab uses a blacklight. \r\rImage description: A man in a lab coat, gloves, and hairnets over his mouth and head looks at a black wedge with a black light. The room is dark, but red light filters in from windows in the background. The man wears safety glasses.", "width": 3648, "height": 5472, "pixels": 19961856 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375687, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14679/#media_group_375687", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "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
\r
0:00 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
\r
Credit: NASA/Sophia Roberts and Scott Wiessinger", "items": [ { "id": 444659, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "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": 444660, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139841, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.00001_searchweb.png", "filename": "2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.00001_searchweb.png", "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": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 444661, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139842, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.00001_web.png", "filename": "2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.00001_web.png", "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": 320, "height": 180, "pixels": 57600 } }, { "id": 444662, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139843, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.00001_thm.png", "filename": "2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.00001_thm.png", "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": 80, "height": 40, "pixels": 3200 } }, { "id": 444707, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139888, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.webm", "filename": "2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.webm", "media_type": "Movie", "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": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 444658, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139839, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.mp4", "filename": "2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.mp4", "media_type": "Movie", "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": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 444657, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139838, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014679/2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.mov", "filename": "2-NICER_-_White_Glove_No_Rough_Edges_Test_-_ProRes_-_no_audio.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "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": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "PAO" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Photographer", "people": [ { "name": "Scott Wiessinger", "employer": "eMITS" } ] }, { "role": "Videographer", "people": [ { "name": "Sophia Roberts", "employer": "Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc." } ] }, { "role": "Science writer", "people": [ { "name": "Jeanette Kazmierczak", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] }, { "role": "Scientist", "people": [ { "name": "Keith C. Gendreau", "employer": "NASA/GSFC" }, { "name": "Zaven Arzoumanian", "employer": "NASA/GSFC" } ] } ], "missions": [ "Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER)" ], "series": [ "Astrophysics B-Roll", "Astrophysics Stills" ], "tapes": [], "papers": [], "datasets": [], "nasa_science_categories": [ "Universe" ], "keywords": [ "Ast", "Astrophysics", "Neutron Star", "NICER", "Pulsar", "Space", "Universe", "X-ray" ], "recommended_pages": [], "related": [ { "id": 14636, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14636/", "page_type": "Produced Video", "title": "Astronauts Practice Fixing NICER in John Space Center's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory Pool", "description": "Pettit_and_Hauge_Get_Suited_and_Enter_NBL_Pool.00001_print.jpg (1024x576) [211.3 KB] || Pettit_and_Hauge_Get_Suited_and_Enter_NBL_Pool.webm (1920x1080) [63.4 MB] || Pettit_and_Hauge_Get_Suited_and_Enter_NBL_Pool.mp4 (1920x1080) [946.9 MB] || Pettit_and_Hauge_Get_Suited_and_Enter_NBL_Pool.mov (1920x1080) [6.9 GB] || ", "release_date": "9999-12-30T18:59:59-05:00", "update_date": "2024-09-11T22:46:53.509941-04:00", "main_image": { "id": 1095519, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014636/Astronaut_Nick_Hague_Practices_NICER_patch_install_NBL_Pool_RIGHT_SIDE.00001_print.jpg", "filename": "Astronaut_Nick_Hague_Practices_NICER_patch_install_NBL_Pool_RIGHT_SIDE.00001_print.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "", "width": 1024, "height": 576, "pixels": 589824 } }, { "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": 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 } }, { "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": [] }