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.", "items": [], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375679, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/#media_group_375679", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Astronaut Don Pettit adjusts the communications cap he wears under his helmet before a training run in the NBL at Johnson on May 16, 2024. Astronaut Jessica Meir looks on. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r
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Alt text: An astronaut adjusts his communications cap. \r
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Image description: A woman in a black shirt stands on the left side. She’s looking at a man in a white spacesuit. He’s using both hands to adjust his white and black cap, which covers both ears. Behind them is a large pool.", "items": [ { "id": 441332, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098294, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/jsc2024e035551.jpg", "filename": "jsc2024e035551.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Astronaut Don Pettit adjusts the communications cap he wears under his helmet before a training run in the NBL at Johnson on May 16, 2024. Astronaut Jessica Meir looks on. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r\rAlt text: An astronaut adjusts his communications cap. \r\rImage description: A woman in a black shirt stands on the left side. She’s looking at a man in a white spacesuit. He’s using both hands to adjust his white and black cap, which covers both ears. Behind them is a large pool.", "width": 6962, "height": 4641, "pixels": 32310642 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375707, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/#media_group_375707", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Astronaut Nick Hague prepares to be lowered by crane into the pool at Johnson’s NBL on May 16, 2024. Don Pettit stands on the platform behind him. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r
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Alt text: Astronauts standing on a platform attached to a large crane. \r
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Image description: A man in a spacesuit stands on a platform below a large yellow crane. Just visible is another man in a spacesuit standing with his back to him. Several people stand to the left and behind the platform, looking on. They’re in a large building with a high ceiling.", "items": [ { "id": 441333, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098295, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/jsc2024e035556.jpg", "filename": "jsc2024e035556.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Astronaut Nick Hague prepares to be lowered by crane into the pool at Johnson’s NBL on May 16, 2024. Don Pettit stands on the platform behind him. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r\rAlt text: Astronauts standing on a platform attached to a large crane. \r\rImage description: A man in a spacesuit stands on a platform below a large yellow crane. Just visible is another man in a spacesuit standing with his back to him. Several people stand to the left and behind the platform, looking on. They’re in a large building with a high ceiling.", "width": 5189, "height": 7784, "pixels": 40391176 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375708, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/#media_group_375708", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Astronaut Nick Hague prepares for a training run in Johnson’s NBL on May 16, 2024. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r
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Alt text: A man in a spacesuit \r
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Image description: A close-up of a man wearing a spacesuit. His face is visible through his helmet, which takes up two-thirds of the photo. He looks pensive. His hands rest on his chest in the bottom third of the photo.", "items": [ { "id": 441334, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098296, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/jsc2024e035564.jpg", "filename": "jsc2024e035564.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Astronaut Nick Hague prepares for a training run in Johnson’s NBL on May 16, 2024. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r\rAlt text: A man in a spacesuit \r\rImage description: A close-up of a man wearing a spacesuit. His face is visible through his helmet, which takes up two-thirds of the photo. He looks pensive. His hands rest on his chest in the bottom third of the photo.", "width": 5504, "height": 8256, "pixels": 45441024 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375709, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/#media_group_375709", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Astronaut Don Pettit prepares for a training run in Johson’s NBL on May 16, 2024. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r
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Alt text: A man in a spacesuit. \r
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Image description: A close-up of a man wearing a spacesuit. His face is visible through his helmet, which takes up two-thirds of the photo. He’s wearing glasses. An American flag patch is visible on his shoulder. Behind him is a blue pool.", "items": [ { "id": 441335, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098297, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/jsc2024e035580.jpg", "filename": "jsc2024e035580.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Astronaut Don Pettit prepares for a training run in Johson’s NBL on May 16, 2024. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r\rAlt text: A man in a spacesuit. \r\rImage description: A close-up of a man wearing a spacesuit. His face is visible through his helmet, which takes up two-thirds of the photo. He’s wearing glasses. An American flag patch is visible on his shoulder. Behind him is a blue pool.", "width": 5504, "height": 8256, "pixels": 45441024 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375710, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/#media_group_375710", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "A crane lowers astronauts Nick Hague and Don Pettit into the pool at Johnson’s NBL on May 16, 2024. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r
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Alt text: Two men in spacesuits are lowered into a pool. \r
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Image description: Two men stand on a platform partially submerged up to their ankles in a pool. Both wear spacesuits and stand back-to-back. The man facing the camera smiles. People watch in the background.", "items": [ { "id": 441336, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098298, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/jsc2024e035602.jpg", "filename": "jsc2024e035602.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "A crane lowers astronauts Nick Hague and Don Pettit into the pool at Johnson’s NBL on May 16, 2024. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r\rAlt text: Two men in spacesuits are lowered into a pool. \r\rImage description: Two men stand on a platform partially submerged up to their ankles in a pool. Both wear spacesuits and stand back-to-back. The man facing the camera smiles. People watch in the background.", "width": 3497, "height": 5245, "pixels": 18341765 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375711, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/#media_group_375711", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Astronauts Nick Hague and Don Pettit are almost fully submerged in this photo taken May 16, 2024, at Johnson’s NBL. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r
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Alt text: Two men in spacesuits nearly submersed in a pool. \r
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Image description: Two men wearing spacesuits are almost totally submerged in a pool. They stand back-to-back on a platform that’s being lowered by a crane out of frame. The man facing the camera has his helmet light on and looks up. The man behind him is waving to onlookers.", "items": [ { "id": 441337, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098299, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/jsc2024e035608.jpg", "filename": "jsc2024e035608.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Astronauts Nick Hague and Don Pettit are almost fully submerged in this photo taken May 16, 2024, at Johnson’s NBL. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r\rAlt text: Two men in spacesuits nearly submersed in a pool. \r\rImage description: Two men wearing spacesuits are almost totally submerged in a pool. They stand back-to-back on a platform that’s being lowered by a crane out of frame. The man facing the camera has his helmet light on and looks up. The man behind him is waving to onlookers.", "width": 4122, "height": 2748, "pixels": 11327256 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375712, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/#media_group_375712", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "Charles Baker, a NICER team member and engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, watches the NICER repair training run at Johnson’s NBL on May 16, 2024. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r
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Alt text: A man looks up from a computer. \r
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Image description: A man in a long-sleeve pink shirt with a blue lanyard around his neck looks up from his computer. He’s wearing glasses. The wall behind him is glass, and another set of table and chairs is visible in the space behind it.", "items": [ { "id": 441338, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098300, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/jsc2024e035613.jpg", "filename": "jsc2024e035613.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "Charles Baker, a NICER team member and engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, watches the NICER repair training run at Johnson’s NBL on May 16, 2024. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r\rAlt text: A man looks up from a computer. \r\rImage description: A man in a long-sleeve pink shirt with a blue lanyard around his neck looks up from his computer. He’s wearing glasses. The wall behind him is glass, and another set of table and chairs is visible in the space behind it.", "width": 7125, "height": 4750, "pixels": 33843750 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375713, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/#media_group_375713", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "NICER team members and others look on as astronauts complete a training run at the NBL at Johnson on May 16, 2024. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r
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Alt text: People in a room looking up at a wall of windows and screens. \r
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Image description: People at two rows of tables sit with their backs to the camera. They look at a wall with large windows with a line of screens above. The screens show astronauts in a pool. Facing the wall are three additional tables with monitors showing the same view as those above. Visible through the windows is a large space with two yellow cranes.", "items": [ { "id": 441339, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098301, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/jsc2024e035616.jpg", "filename": "jsc2024e035616.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "NICER team members and others look on as astronauts complete a training run at the NBL at Johnson on May 16, 2024. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r\rAlt text: People in a room looking up at a wall of windows and screens. \r\rImage description: People at two rows of tables sit with their backs to the camera. They look at a wall with large windows with a line of screens above. The screens show astronauts in a pool. Facing the wall are three additional tables with monitors showing the same view as those above. Visible through the windows is a large space with two yellow cranes.", "width": 8256, "height": 5504, "pixels": 45441024 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375714, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/#media_group_375714", "widget": "Single image", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "On the desk, from left to right, rest a 3D-printed model of NICER, a spare NICER sunshade bolted to a plate with test patches installed, and a tin holding a spare NICER thermal shield. These items were used for demonstrations for astronaut trainings over several exercises at Johnson’s NBL. This photo was taken during a practice run on May 16, 2024. \r
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Credit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r
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Alt text: Items on a table. \r
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Image description: Three items rest on a black tabletop. The leftmost item is a NICER model, a rectangular shape constructed of green, red, and gold plastic. The center item is a cylinder bolted to a metal square. The cylinder is white on the outside and black on the inside. It’s divided into six segments. Two wedges with white stickers on the top have been inserted into two of the segments. The rightmost item is a gold tin, which looks like it could hold an old film reel. In the background is a row of monitors showing a blurry feed from a pool.", "items": [ { "id": 441340, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1098302, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/jsc2024e035637.jpg", "filename": "jsc2024e035637.jpg", "media_type": "Image", "alt_text": "On the desk, from left to right, rest a 3D-printed model of NICER, a spare NICER sunshade bolted to a plate with test patches installed, and a tin holding a spare NICER thermal shield. These items were used for demonstrations for astronaut trainings over several exercises at Johnson’s NBL. This photo was taken during a practice run on May 16, 2024. \r\rCredit: NASA/Jose Guzman\r\rAlt text: Items on a table. \r\rImage description: Three items rest on a black tabletop. The leftmost item is a NICER model, a rectangular shape constructed of green, red, and gold plastic. The center item is a cylinder bolted to a metal square. The cylinder is white on the outside and black on the inside. It’s divided into six segments. Two wedges with white stickers on the top have been inserted into two of the segments. The rightmost item is a gold tin, which looks like it could hold an old film reel. In the background is a row of monitors showing a blurry feed from a pool.", "width": 7355, "height": 4903, "pixels": 36061565 } } ], "extra_data": {} }, { "id": 375715, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14680/#media_group_375715", "widget": "Video player", "title": "", "caption": "", "description": "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
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0:00 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
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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": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } }, { "id": 444637, "type": "media", "extra_data": null, "title": null, "caption": null, "instance": { "id": 1139827, "url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014680/Astronauts_Hague_and_Pettit_introduced_to_NICER_Team-no_Audio.mov", "filename": "Astronauts_Hague_and_Pettit_introduced_to_NICER_Team-no_Audio.mov", "media_type": "Movie", "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": 3840, "height": 2160, "pixels": 8294400 } } ], "extra_data": {} } ], "studio": "gms", "funding_sources": [ "PAO" ], "credits": [ { "role": "Science writer", "people": [ { "name": "Jeanette Kazmierczak", "employer": "University of Maryland College Park" } ] }, { "role": "Producer", "people": [ { "name": "Sophia Roberts", "employer": "Advocates in Manpower Management, Inc." } ] }, { "role": "Technical support", "people": [ { "name": "Aaron E. Lepsch", "employer": "ADNET Systems, Inc." } ] }, { "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", "Astronaut", "Astrophysics", "Johnson Space Center", "NBL", "Neutron Star", "NICER", "Pulsar", "Repair", "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": 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 } }, { "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": [] }