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Gaia Hit by a Micrometeoroid AND Caught in a Solar Storm

The European Space Agency (ESA)’s Gaia space telescope has faced a pair of difficulties recently. First, there was a puncture from a micrometeoroid. Second, there was an electrical error with the technology due to the recent solar storm. The Gaia telescope sends important information of distant stars’ motion and positions. As a result of these snags, the telescope was not able to filter through the junk data like normal. Operators began receiving gigabytes of unimportant or incorrect data. Luckily, scientists were able to solve this problem and have been receiving better data than ever expected. 
NASA Artemis Science, First Intuitive Machines Flight Head to Moon
Intuitive Machines revealed that the Odysseus lunar lander is tilted on its side after landing on the moon, likely due to catching one of its feet on a lunar rock. Despite this, the spacecraft remains stable and operational, with its solar panels charging its batteries. The mission faced challenges, including a faulty navigation equipment, but successfully landed with the help of a NASA instrument. The spacecraft is still assessing its ability to carry out science objectives, with potential limitations due to its unexpected orientation. Nevertheless, the mission is celebrated as a significant achievement, marking the first US soft landing on the moon since 1972. Odysseus is expected to operate on the lunar surface for about nine days before succumbing to the extreme cold of the lunar night.
NASA’s Juno to Get Close Look at Jupiter’s Volcanic Moon Io on Dec. 30
This image revealing the north polar region of the Jovian moon Io was taken on October 15 by NASA’s Juno. Three of the mountain peaks visible in the upper part of image, near the day-night dividing line, were observed here for the first time by the spacecraft’s JunoCam.
Image data: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS, Image processing by Ted Stryk

NASA’s Deep Space Network Turns 60 and Prepares for the Future

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