Sharmila Kuthunur is a Seattle-based science journalist covering astronomy, astrophysics and space exploration. Follow her on X @skuthunur.
on an extended mission. That new mission calls for OSIRIS-APEX to glide 25 million miles closer to the sun than it was. Scientists deem several such close passes necessary for the probe to get on a path to reach Apophis in 2029.
Both of these images from a camera called StowCam aboard OSIRIS-APEX show the same view taken six months apart, before and after the Jan. 2, 2024, perihelion. Notably, there is no observable difference on spacecraft surfaces, a good indication that the higher temperatures faced during perihelion didn’t alter the spacecraft. Another insight gleaned from the identical view in the two images is that the camera’s performance was also not affected by perihelion.
Telemetry data downloaded from the spacecraft in mid-March assured scientists of its good health. By early April, the probe had gotten far enough away from the sun to resume normal operations, according to the NASA statement.Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
Hot pixels occur due to prolonged exposure to solar radiation and are a common issue for cameras in space. While they are normally resolved with controlled heat using onboard heaters, OSIRIS-APEX's camera was restored naturally, thanks to the spike in heat from the close solar encounter, scientists said.
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