JWST Instrument Out Of Service

NASA has confirmed that August 24, 2022 a mechanism on the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has “exhibited what appears to be increased friction” while being prepared for an observation.

JWST Controllers have stopped using one of four observing modes of the MIRI while they have an anomaly team review the data and plan next steps. At this time teams are confident they will be able to resolve the issue and it will not be a long term problem.

The problem affects medium resolution spectroscopy observations. MIRI’s other 3 modes for imaging, low resolution spectroscopy and coronagraphy are continuing their observations.

Engineers “do not anticipate that this will preclude this will preclude using this instrument in the future, but they wanted to understand why they’re seeing this particular increase in friction,” said Eric Smith, JWST Program Scientist at NASA HQ 

JWST continues to perform at or above expectations otherwise.