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"title": "NICER",
"description": "The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer\n\nInstalled aboard the International Space Station in June 2017, NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer provides high-precision measurements of neutron stars, objects containing ultra-dense matter at the threshold of collapse into black holes. NICER will also test, for the first time in space, technology that uses pulsars as navigation beacons.\n\n For more information visit the NICER website.",
"release_date": "2017-03-03T00:00:00-05:00",
"update_date": "2025-05-18T00:00:00-04:00",
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"alt_text": "The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer\n\nInstalled aboard the International Space Station in June 2017, NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer provides high-precision measurements of neutron stars, objects containing ultra-dense matter at the threshold of collapse into black holes. NICER will also test, for the first time in space, technology that uses pulsars as navigation beacons.\n\n For more information visit the NICER website.",
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"description": "The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer
\n\nInstalled aboard the International Space Station in June 2017, NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer provides high-precision measurements of neutron stars, objects containing ultra-dense matter at the threshold of collapse into black holes. NICER will also test, for the first time in space, technology that uses pulsars as navigation beacons.\n\n For more information visit the NICER website.",
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"page_type": "Produced Video",
"title": "NASA's NICER Studies Recurring Cosmic Crashes",
"description": "Watch how astronomers used data from NASA’s NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) to study a mysterious cosmic phenomenon called a quasi-periodic eruption, or QPE.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Superluminal\" by Lee Groves [PRS] and Peter Geogre Marett [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || YTframe_thumbnail_NICER_QPE.jpg (1280x720) [225.7 KB] || YTframe_thumbnail_NICER_QPE_searchweb.png (320x180) [95.5 KB] || YTframe_thumbnail_NICER_QPE_thm.png [8.7 KB] || 14819_NICER_QPE_Good.mp4 (1920x1080) [70.6 MB] || 14819_NICER_QPE_Best.mp4 (1920x1080) [172.3 MB] || 14819_NICER_QPE_Captions.en_US.srt [2.8 KB] || 14819_NICER_QPE_Captions.en_US.vtt [2.7 KB] || 14819_NICER_QPE_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [1.6 GB] || ",
"release_date": "2025-05-06T10:45:00-04:00",
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"alt_text": "Watch how astronomers used data from NASA’s NICER (Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer) to study a mysterious cosmic phenomenon called a quasi-periodic eruption, or QPE.\r\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center\r\rMusic: \"Superluminal\" by Lee Groves [PRS] and Peter Geogre Marett [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.",
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"title": "NASA's NICER Tracks a Magnetar's Hot Spots",
"description": "Explore how NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) tracked brilliant hot spots on the surface of an erupting magnetar – from 13,000 light-years away. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Particles and Fields\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Magnetar_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [574.3 KB] || Magnetar_Still_print.jpg (1024x576) [229.0 KB] || Magnetar_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [66.1 KB] || Magnetar_Still_thm.png (80x40) [5.2 KB] || 14115_Merging_Magnetar_HotSpots_1080_Best.webm (1920x1080) [17.4 MB] || 14115_Merging_Magnetar_HotSpots_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [158.9 MB] || 14115_Merging_Magnetar_HotSpots_1080_Best.mp4 (1920x1080) [382.0 MB] || 14115_Migrating_Magnetar_HotSpots_1080.en_US.srt [2.1 KB] || 14115_Migrating_Magnetar_HotSpots_1080.en_US.vtt [2.1 KB] || 14115_Merging_Magnetar_HotSpots_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [2.1 GB] || ",
"release_date": "2022-03-08T13:00:00-05:00",
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"alt_text": "Explore how NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) tracked brilliant hot spots on the surface of an erupting magnetar – from 13,000 light-years away. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Particles and Fields\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.",
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"title": "NASA Missions Team Up to Study Unique Magnetar Outburst",
"description": "On April 28, space- and ground-based observatories detected powerful, simultaneous X-ray and radio bursts from a source in our galaxy. Watch to see how this unique event helps solve the longstanding puzzle of fast radio bursts observed in other galaxies.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Jupiter's Eye\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Magnetar_FRB_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [535.5 KB] || Magnetar_FRB_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [65.5 KB] || Magnetar_FRB_Still_thm.png (80x40) [4.8 KB] || 13751_Magnetar_FRB_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [3.2 GB] || 13751_Magnetar_FRB_Best_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [741.8 MB] || 13751_Magnetar_FRB_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [237.4 MB] || 13751_Magnetar_FRB_Best_1080.webm (1920x1080) [25.7 MB] || Fast_Radio_Burst_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [4.5 KB] || Fast_Radio_Burst_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [4.5 KB] || ",
"release_date": "2020-11-04T11:00:00-05:00",
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"alt_text": "On April 28, space- and ground-based observatories detected powerful, simultaneous X-ray and radio bursts from a source in our galaxy. Watch to see how this unique event helps solve the longstanding puzzle of fast radio bursts observed in other galaxies.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Jupiter's Eye\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.",
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"page_type": "Produced Video",
"title": "NASA’s NICER Tests Matter’s Limits",
"description": "Watch how NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) is helping physicists peer into the hearts of neutron stars, the remains of massive stars that exploded in supernovae. Scientists want to explore the nature of matter inside these objects, where it exists on the verge of collapsing into black holes. To do so, scientists need precise measurements of neutron stars’ masses and sizes, which NICER and other efforts are now making possible.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Question Time\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Video_title_card_2.jpg (1920x1080) [206.4 KB] || Video_title_card_2_searchweb.png (320x180) [54.8 KB] || Video_title_card_2_thm.png (80x40) [5.7 KB] || 13832_NICER_TestsMattersLimits_Best_1080.webm (1920x1080) [28.5 MB] || 13832_NICER_TestsMattersLimits_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [187.8 MB] || 13832_NICER_TestsMattersLimits_Best_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [650.1 MB] || 13832_NICER_TestsMattersLimits_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [4.7 KB] || 13832_NICER_TestsMattersLimits_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [4.8 KB] || 13832_NICER_TestsMattersLimits_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [3.5 GB] || ",
"release_date": "2021-04-17T11:00:00-04:00",
"update_date": "2025-01-06T01:35:15.330026-05:00",
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"alt_text": "Watch how NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) is helping physicists peer into the hearts of neutron stars, the remains of massive stars that exploded in supernovae. Scientists want to explore the nature of matter inside these objects, where it exists on the verge of collapsing into black holes. To do so, scientists need precise measurements of neutron stars’ masses and sizes, which NICER and other efforts are now making possible.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Question Time\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.",
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"title": "NASA’s NICER Finds X-ray Boosts in the Crab Pulsar’s Radio Bursts",
"description": "Observations from NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) show X-ray boosts linked in the Crab pulsar's random giant radio pulses. Watch to learn more. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"The Awakening\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Crab_Radio_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [865.4 KB] || Crab_Radio_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [65.9 KB] || Crab_Radio_Still_thm.png (80x40) [5.2 KB] || 13737_Crab_Pulsar_Radio_Bursts_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [1.6 GB] || 13737_Crab_Pulsar_Radio_Bursts_Best_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [275.3 MB] || 13737_Crab_Pulsar_Radio_Bursts_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [114.7 MB] || 13737_Crab_Pulsar_Radio_Bursts_Best_1080.webm (1920x1080) [15.2 MB] || 13737_Crab_Pulsar_Radio_Bursts_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [2.6 KB] || 13737_Crab_Pulsar_Radio_Bursts_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [2.6 KB] || ",
"release_date": "2021-04-08T14:00:00-04:00",
"update_date": "2023-05-03T13:44:13.847455-04:00",
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"alt_text": "Observations from NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) show X-ray boosts linked in the Crab pulsar's random giant radio pulses. Watch to learn more. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"The Awakening\" from Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.",
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"title": "NASA’s NICER Sizes Up a Pulsar, Reveals First-ever Surface Map",
"description": "Watch how NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) has expanded our understanding of pulsars, the dense, spinning corpses of exploded stars. Pulsar J0030+0451 (J0030 for short), located 1,100 light-years away in the constellation Pisces, now has the most precise and reliable measurements of both a pulsar’s mass and size to date. The shapes and locations of its hot spots challenge textbook depictions of these incredible objects. Music: \"Uncertain Ahead\" and \"Flowing Cityscape\" (underscore). Both from Universal Production MusicCredit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Two_NS_Model_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [308.5 KB] || Two_NS_Model_Still_print.jpg (1024x576) [140.4 KB] || Two_NS_Model_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [87.0 KB] || Two_NS_Model_Still_thm.png (80x40) [8.0 KB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_1080.webm (1920x1080) [33.5 MB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [301.1 MB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_Best_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [804.5 MB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [5.9 KB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [5.9 KB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [1.9 GB] || ",
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"alt_text": "Watch how NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) has expanded our understanding of pulsars, the dense, spinning corpses of exploded stars. Pulsar J0030+0451 (J0030 for short), located 1,100 light-years away in the constellation Pisces, now has the most precise and reliable measurements of both a pulsar’s mass and size to date. The shapes and locations of its hot spots challenge textbook depictions of these incredible objects. \rMusic: \"Uncertain Ahead\" and \"Flowing Cityscape\" (underscore). Both from Universal Production MusicCredit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.",
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"page_type": "Animation",
"title": "NICER Catches Milestone X-ray Burst",
"description": "At about 10:04 p.m. EDT on Aug. 20, NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) telescope on the International Space Station detected a sudden spike of X-rays caused by a massive thermonuclear flash on the surface of a pulsar, the crushed remains of a star that long ago exploded as a supernova. The X-ray burst, the brightest seen by NICER so far, came from an object named SAX J1808.4-3658, or J1808 for short. The observations reveal many phenomena that have never been seen together in a single burst. In addition, the subsiding fireball briefly brightened again for reasons astronomers cannot yet explain. The data reveal a two-step change in brightness, which scientists think is caused by the ejection of separate layers from the pulsar surface, and other features that will help them decode the physics of these powerful events.The explosion, which astronomers classify as a Type I X-ray burst, released as much energy in 20 seconds as the Sun does in nearly 10 days.J1808 is located about 11,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius, spins at a dizzying 401 rotations each second, and is one member of a binary system. Its companion is a brown dwarf, an object larger than a giant planet yet too small to be a star. A steady stream of hydrogen gas flows from the companion toward the neutron star, and it accumulates in a vast storage structure called an accretion disk.Hydrogen raining onto the pulsar's surface forms a hot, ever-deepening global “sea.” At the base of this layer, temperatures and pressures increase until hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium nuclei, which produces energy — a process at work in the core of our Sun. The helium settles out and builds up a layer of its own. Eventually, the conditions allow helium nuclei to fuse into carbon. The helium erupts explosively and unleashes a thermonuclear fireball across the entire pulsar surface.As the burst started, NICER data show that its X-ray brightness leveled off for almost a second before increasing again at a slower pace. The researchers interpret this “stall” as the moment when the energy of the blast built up enough to blow the pulsar’s hydrogen layer into space. The fireball continued to build for another two seconds and then reached its peak, blowing off the more massive helium layer. The helium expanded faster, overtook the hydrogen layer before it could dissipate, and then slowed, stopped and settled back down onto the pulsar’s surface. Following this phase, the pulsar briefly brightened again by roughly 20 percent for reasons the team does not yet understand. || ",
"release_date": "2019-11-07T13:00:00-05:00",
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"alt_text": "A thermonuclear blast on a pulsar called J1808 resulted in the brightest burst of X-rays seen to date by NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) telescope. The explosion occurred on Aug. 20, 2019, and released as much energy in 20 seconds as our Sun does in almost 10 days. Watch to see how scientists think this incredible explosion occurred. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Business As Usual\" from Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.",
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"title": "NICER Charts the Area Around a New Black Hole",
"description": "Watch how X-ray echoes, mapped by NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) revealed changes to the corona of black hole MAXI J1820+070.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: \"Superluminal\" from Killer TracksComplete transcript available. || Black_Hole_Corona_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [317.0 KB] || Black_Hole_Corona_Still_print.jpg (1024x576) [109.5 KB] || Black_Hole_Corona_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [87.9 KB] || Black_Hole_Corona_Still_thm.png (80x40) [6.6 KB] || 12854_Black_Hole_Corona_ProRes_1920x1080.mov (1920x1080) [3.3 GB] || 12854_Black_Hole_Corona_1080p.mov (1920x1080) [515.0 MB] || 12854_Black_Hole_Corona.mp4 (1920x1080) [335.5 MB] || 12854_Black_Hole_Corona_small.mp4 (1920x1080) [135.2 MB] || 12854_Black_Hole_Corona_ProRes_1920x1080.webm (1920x1080) [26.7 MB] || 12854_Black_Hole_Corona_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [4.5 KB] || 12854_Black_Hole_Corona_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [4.5 KB] || ",
"release_date": "2019-01-30T12:30:00-05:00",
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"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "Watch how X-ray echoes, mapped by NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) revealed changes to the corona of black hole MAXI J1820+070.\rCredit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center\rMusic: \"Superluminal\" from Killer TracksComplete transcript available.",
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"page_type": "Produced Video",
"title": "NASA'S NICER Does the Space Station Twist",
"description": "NICER Video with Astro and Goddard end tagsMusic: \"Frames of Motion\" from Killer TracksComplete transcript available. || NICER_ISS_Goddard.mp4 (1920x1080) [94.9 MB] || NICER_ISS_Goddard.webm (1920x1080) [9.9 MB] || NICER_ISS_Goddard_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [868 bytes] || NICER_ISS_Goddard_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [806 bytes] || ",
"release_date": "2018-08-14T13:00:00-04:00",
"update_date": "2023-05-03T13:46:30.711553-04:00",
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"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer\n\nInstalled aboard the International Space Station in June 2017, NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer provides high-precision measurements of neutron stars, objects containing ultra-dense matter at the threshold of collapse into black holes. NICER will also test, for the first time in space, technology that uses pulsars as navigation beacons.\n\n For more information visit the NICER website.",
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"page_type": "Produced Video",
"title": "NICER Finds X-ray Pulsar in Record-fast Orbit",
"description": "Scientists analyzing the first data from the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission have found two stars that revolve around each other every 38 minutes. One of the stars in the system, called IGR J17062–6143 (J17062 for short), is a rapidly spinning, superdense star called a pulsar. The other is probably a hydrogen-poor white dwarf. The discovery bestows the stellar pair with the record for the shortest-known orbital period for a certain class of pulsar binary system.Music: \"Games Show Sphere 2\" from Killer TracksComplete transcript available.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel. || NICER_Binary_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [197.3 KB] || NICER_Binary_Still_print.jpg (1024x576) [89.4 KB] || NICER_Binary_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [46.7 KB] || NICER_Binary_Still_thm.png (80x40) [4.0 KB] || 12938_NICER_Binary_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [91.4 MB] || 12938_NICER_Binary_1080p.mov (1920x1080) [47.8 MB] || 12938_NICER_Binary_Good_1080.m4v (1920x1080) [44.7 MB] || 12938_NICER_Binary_1080p.webm (1920x1080) [7.0 MB] || 12938_NICER_Binary_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [456.9 MB] || NICER_Binary_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [767 bytes] || NICER_Binary_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [741 bytes] || ",
"release_date": "2018-05-10T13:00:00-04:00",
"update_date": "2025-01-06T01:32:59.469016-05:00",
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"alt_text": "Scientists analyzing the first data from the Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission have found two stars that revolve around each other every 38 minutes. One of the stars in the system, called IGR J17062–6143 (J17062 for short), is a rapidly spinning, superdense star called a pulsar. The other is probably a hydrogen-poor white dwarf. The discovery bestows the stellar pair with the record for the shortest-known orbital period for a certain class of pulsar binary system.Music: \"Games Show Sphere 2\" from Killer TracksComplete transcript available.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.",
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"id": 409642,
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"id": 12630,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12630/",
"page_type": "Produced Video",
"title": "NICER Mission Overview",
"description": "The Neutron Star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) payload, destined for the exterior of the space station, will study the physics of neutron stars, providing new insight into their nature and behavior. These stars are called “pulsars” because of the unique way they emit light – in a beam similar to a lighthouse beacon. As the star spins, the light sweeps past us, making it appear as if the star is pulsing. Neutron stars emit X-ray radiation, enabling the NICER technology to observe and record information about their structure, dynamics and energetics. The payload also includes a technology demonstration called the Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT) which will help researchers to develop a pulsar-based space navigation system. Pulsar navigation could work similarly to GPS on Earth, providing precise position and time for spacecraft throughout the solar system.The 2-in-1 mission launched on June 3, 2017 aboard SpaceX's eleventh contracted cargo resupply mission with NASA to the International Space Station. The payload arrived at the space station in the Dragon spacecraft, along with other cargo, on June 5, 2017. || ",
"release_date": "2017-06-01T00:00:00-04:00",
"update_date": "2023-05-03T13:47:37.170120-04:00",
"main_image": {
"id": 413817,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012600/a012630/NICER-overview-cover_print.jpg",
"filename": "NICER-overview-cover_print.jpg",
"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "Music credit: Killer Tracks, Shifting Reality",
"width": 1024,
"height": 575,
"pixels": 588800
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"type": "details_page",
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"instance": {
"id": 12605,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12605/",
"page_type": "Produced Video",
"title": "What is a Neutron Star?",
"description": "Here's just some of what we already know about neutron stars. An upcoming NASA mission will further investigate these unusual objects from the International Space Station. The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer mission, or NICER, will study the extraordinary environments — strong gravity, ultra-dense matter, and the most powerful magnetic fields in the universe — embodied by neutron stars. NICER is a two-in-one mission. The embedded Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology, or SEXTANT, demonstration will use NICER data to validate, for the first time in space, pulsar-based navigation.NICER is planned for launch aboard the SpaceX CRS-11, currently scheduled for June 1, 2017. Learn more about the mission at nasa.gov/nicer. || ",
"release_date": "2017-05-18T00:00:00-04:00",
"update_date": "2023-05-03T13:47:40.910858-04:00",
"main_image": {
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"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012600/a012605/Neutron_star_NICER_print.jpg",
"filename": "Neutron_star_NICER_print.jpg",
"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "This video explains some of what's known about neutron stars and previews NASA's Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer mission (NICER).Music: Killer Tracks, Choose (NM318); Calamitous Computations (ICON011); Dreaming Solitude (PKT017)",
"width": 1024,
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"id": 12606,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12606/",
"page_type": "Produced Video",
"title": "NICER: Launching Soon to the Space Station",
"description": "This video previews the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER). NICER is an Astrophysics Mission of Opportunity within NASA’s Explorer program, which provides frequent flight opportunities for world-class scientific investigations from space utilizing innovative, streamlined and efficient management approaches within the heliophysics and astrophysics science areas. NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate supports the SEXTANT component of the mission, demonstrating pulsar-based spacecraft navigation. NICER is an upcoming International Space Station payload scheduled to launch in June 2017. Learn more about the mission at nasa.gov/nicer. || ",
"release_date": "2017-05-22T10:00:00-04:00",
"update_date": "2023-05-03T13:47:39.643534-04:00",
"main_image": {
"id": 414307,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012600/a012606/NICER:SEXTANT_print.jpg",
"filename": "NICER:SEXTANT_print.jpg",
"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "This video is a teaser for the NICER mission.Music: Killer Tracks, Stuva (PKT017); Sound Design Whoosh 4 (KT260); Drone Ambient (KT202)",
"width": 1024,
"height": 575,
"pixels": 588800
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"extra_data": null,
"instance": {
"id": 12668,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12668/",
"page_type": "Produced Video",
"title": "NICER in Space",
"description": "Several cameras on the International Space Station (ISS) have eyes on NICER. Since arriving to the space station on June 5 – aboard SpaceX’s eleventh cargo resupply mission – NICER underwent robotic installation on ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 2, initial deployment, precise point tests and more. This video shows segments of NICER’s time in space. Scientists and engineers will continue to watch NICER, using these cameras, throughout the mission’s science operations. || ",
"release_date": "2017-07-17T13:00:00-04:00",
"update_date": "2023-05-03T13:47:33.145514-04:00",
"main_image": {
"id": 413010,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a012600/a012668/NICER-in-space-thumb_print.jpg",
"filename": "NICER-in-space-thumb_print.jpg",
"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "Music Credit: KillerTracks, Strange Reality (KOK2310-11)",
"width": 1024,
"height": 568,
"pixels": 581632
}
}
}
],
"extra_data": {}
},
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"id": 371148,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/nicer/#media_group_371148",
"widget": "Card gallery",
"title": "Animations",
"caption": "",
"description": "",
"items": [
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"instance": {
"id": 20359,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20359/",
"page_type": "Animation",
"title": "Migrating Magnetar Hot Spot Animations",
"description": "Animation showing a wide view of SGR 1830, a magnetar that underwent an outburst in October 2020. NICER measurements from the first day of the event show that the X-ray emission exhibited three close peaks with every rotation. Astronomers think the triple peak occurred when three individual surface regions much hotter than their surroundings spun into and out of our view from Earth. NICER tracked the magnetar nearly every day for more than a month. Over that time, the hot spots dimmed, drifted relative to each other, and two even merged – a phenomenon not seen before. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab || 02_MAGNETAR_Wide_view_BlipOnly_Still.png (1920x1080) [2.3 MB] || 02_MAGNETAR_Wide_view_BlipOnly_Still_print.jpg (1024x576) [44.5 KB] || 02_MAGNETAR_Wide_view_BlipOnly_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [52.6 KB] || 02_MAGNETAR_Wide_view_BlipOnly_Still_thm.png (80x40) [4.4 KB] || 02_MAGNETAR_Wide_view_BlipOnly_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [36.0 MB] || 02_MAGNETAR_Wide_view_BlipOnly_web.webm (1920x1080) [3.5 MB] || 02_Magnetar_Wide_BlipOnly1 (1920x1080) [0 Item(s)] || 02_MAGNETAR_Wide_view_BlipOnly_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [502.4 MB] || ",
"release_date": "2022-02-08T13:00:00-05:00",
"update_date": "2023-05-03T13:37:09.352014-04:00",
"main_image": {
"id": 373556,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020300/a020359/02_MAGNETAR_Wide_view_BlipOnly_Still.png",
"filename": "02_MAGNETAR_Wide_view_BlipOnly_Still.png",
"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "Animation showing a wide view of SGR 1830, a magnetar that underwent an outburst in October 2020. NICER measurements from the first day of the event show that the X-ray emission exhibited three close peaks with every rotation. Astronomers think the triple peak occurred when three individual surface regions much hotter than their surroundings spun into and out of our view from Earth. NICER tracked the magnetar nearly every day for more than a month. Over that time, the hot spots dimmed, drifted relative to each other, and two even merged – a phenomenon not seen before. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab",
"width": 1920,
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{
"id": 409647,
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"extra_data": null,
"title": "NICER Payload Animations",
"caption": "Animated video and stills of the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) payload.",
"instance": {
"id": 414766,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020200/a020266/NICER_ISS_00001_searchweb.png",
"filename": "NICER_ISS_00001_searchweb.png",
"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "Animated video and stills of the Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) payload.",
"width": 180,
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"pixels": 57600
}
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{
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"instance": {
"id": 20267,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20267/",
"page_type": "Animation",
"title": "Neutron Star Animations",
"description": "The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission will study neutron stars, the densest known objects in the cosmos. These neutron star animations and graphics highlight some of their unique characteristics.For more information about NICER visit: nasa.gov/nicer. || ",
"release_date": "2017-04-26T00:00:00-04:00",
"update_date": "2025-06-23T00:18:36.801107-04:00",
"main_image": {
"id": 414794,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020200/a020267/2017_02_NICER_NeutronStar_SanFrancisco_Final_0000_print.jpg",
"filename": "2017_02_NICER_NeutronStar_SanFrancisco_Final_0000_print.jpg",
"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "This animation shows the size and scale of a neutron star over San Francisco. Neutron stars squeeze up to two solar masses into a city-size volume, giving rise to the highest stable densities known anywhere. The nature of matter under these conditions is a decades-old unsolved problem.",
"width": 1024,
"height": 576,
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{
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"extra_data": null,
"instance": {
"id": 20268,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/20268/",
"page_type": "Animation",
"title": "NICER Lensing",
"description": "The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mission will study neutron stars, the densest known objects in the cosmos. These neutron star animations and graphics highlight some of their unique characteristics.For more information about NICER visit: nasa.gov/nicer. || ",
"release_date": "2017-04-26T00:00:00-04:00",
"update_date": "2023-05-03T13:47:44.373561-04:00",
"main_image": {
"id": 414817,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a020000/a020200/a020268/2017_02_NICER_NeutronStar_Lensing_Final_450_print.jpg",
"filename": "2017_02_NICER_NeutronStar_Lensing_Final_450_print.jpg",
"media_type": "Image",
"alt_text": "NICER observes X-ray light from the surfaces of neutron stars. In these strong-gravity environments, light paths are distorted so that NICER can see emission from the star's far side, especially for smaller, denser stars. ",
"width": 1024,
"height": 576,
"pixels": 589824
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}
}
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{
"id": 371149,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/nicer/#media_group_371149",
"widget": "Card gallery",
"title": "Raw Footage/B-roll",
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"items": [
{
"id": 433138,
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"extra_data": null,
"instance": {
"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,
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}
}
},
{
"id": 433137,
"type": "details_page",
"extra_data": null,
"instance": {
"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",
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"instance": {
"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",
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{
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"instance": {
"id": 12455,
"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12455/",
"page_type": "Produced Video",
"title": "NICER Electromagnetic Testing Time-lapse Videos",
"description": "The Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) payload undergoes electromagnetic testing at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.Electromagnetic testing serves to verify that NICER’s electrical subsystems do not interfere with each other or with International Space Station electrical systems through, for example, conducted or transmitted emissions. This test also verifies that NICER is not susceptible to malfunction due to the electromagnetic environment of the space station.Two time-lapse videos show the NICER payload deploy during electromagnetic testing and return to its stowed configuration following the tests. || ",
"release_date": "2016-02-03T00:00:00-05:00",
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"alt_text": "The NICER payload, ready for flight, on a dolly in a clean-tent at the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The payload, delivered two weeks ahead of schedule, undergoes monthly functional tests while it awaits launch on the 11th SpaceX commercial resupply mission (CRS-11) to the International Space Station.Credit: NASA Goddard/Keith Gendreau",
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"description": "NICER is a two-in-one mission. In addition to its cutting-edge astrophysics investigations, the embedded Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology (SEXTANT) component will demonstrate a technological first: real-time, autonomous spacecraft navigation using pulsars as beacons.\n\nFor more information, visit the SEXTANT website.",
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"description": "Watch how NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) has expanded our understanding of pulsars, the dense, spinning corpses of exploded stars. Pulsar J0030+0451 (J0030 for short), located 1,100 light-years away in the constellation Pisces, now has the most precise and reliable measurements of both a pulsar’s mass and size to date. The shapes and locations of its hot spots challenge textbook depictions of these incredible objects. Music: \"Uncertain Ahead\" and \"Flowing Cityscape\" (underscore). Both from Universal Production MusicCredit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Two_NS_Model_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [308.5 KB] || Two_NS_Model_Still_print.jpg (1024x576) [140.4 KB] || Two_NS_Model_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [87.0 KB] || Two_NS_Model_Still_thm.png (80x40) [8.0 KB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_1080.webm (1920x1080) [33.5 MB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [301.1 MB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_Best_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [804.5 MB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [5.9 KB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [5.9 KB] || 13240_NICER_J0030_MassRadius_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [1.9 GB] || ",
"release_date": "2019-12-12T11:00:00-05:00",
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"alt_text": "Watch how NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) has expanded our understanding of pulsars, the dense, spinning corpses of exploded stars. Pulsar J0030+0451 (J0030 for short), located 1,100 light-years away in the constellation Pisces, now has the most precise and reliable measurements of both a pulsar’s mass and size to date. The shapes and locations of its hot spots challenge textbook depictions of these incredible objects. \rMusic: \"Uncertain Ahead\" and \"Flowing Cityscape\" (underscore). Both from Universal Production MusicCredit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available.",
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"title": "Neutron Stars - A Closer Perspective:",
"description": "Two views of a Neutron Star: First, a closeup view of a neutron star cycling before, during and after a gamma ray burst and second, crossing a Protoplanetary Nebula toward an elusive Neutron Star || ",
"release_date": "2008-07-21T12:00:00-04:00",
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"title": "Pulsar Blinking",
"description": "A pulsar is a neutron star which emits beams of radiation that sweep through the earth's line of sight. Like a black hole, it is an endpoint to stellar evolution. The \"pulses\" of high-energy radiation we see from a pulsar are due to a misalignment of the neutron star's rotation axis and its magnetic axis. Pulsars pulse because the rotation of the neutron star causes the radiation generated within the magnetic field to sweep in and out of our line of sight with a regular period. External viewers see pulses of radiation whenever this region above the the magnetic pole is visible. Because of the rotation of the pulsar, the pulses thus appear much as a distant observer sees a lighthouse appear to blink as its beam rotates. The pulses come at the same rate as the rotation of the neutron star, and, thus, appear periodic. || ",
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"title": "Pulsars Emit Gamma-rays from Equator",
"description": "A pulsar is a rapidly spinning and highly magnetized neutron star, the crushed core left behind when a massive sun explodes. Most were found through their pulses at radio wavelengths, which are thought to be caused by narrow, lighthouse-like beams emanating from the star's magnetic poles. When it comes to gamma-rays, pulsars are no longer lighthouses. A new class of gamma-ray-only pulsars shows that the gamma rays must form in a broader region than the lighthouse-like radio beam. Astronomers now believe the pulsed gamma rays arise far above the neutron star. || ",
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"alt_text": "The pulsar's radio beams (green) never intersect Earth, but its pulsed gamma rays (magenta) do.",
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"description": "This animation takes us into a spinning pulsar, with its strong magnetic field rotating along with it. Clouds of charged particles move along the field lines and their gamma-rays are beamed like a lighthouse beacon by the magnetic fields. As our line of sight moves into the beam, we see the pulsations once every rotation of the neutron star. || ",
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"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. || ",
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"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",
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"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. || ",
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"url": "https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/a014600/a014678/EV2-HAGUE_In_NBL_Pool.00001_print.jpg",
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"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",
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"type": "details_page",
"extra_data": null,
"instance": {
"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",
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"type": "details_page",
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"instance": {
"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,
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{
"id": 433193,
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"extra_data": null,
"instance": {
"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": 433192,
"type": "details_page",
"extra_data": null,
"instance": {
"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,
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}
}
}
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}