NASA: James Webb Space Telescope AT RISK! Will it survive Halley’s Comet?

NASA’s newest and most expensive telescope ever, the James Webb Space Telescope is at risk of getting damaged by the trail left behind by Halley’s Comet, according to NASA. So, the question arises that will the world’s most expensive telescope be able to withstand this? Read on to find out more.

The James Webb Space Telescope is currently 1.5 million Kms away from Earth and orbiting the Sun. However, it is now due to enter the trajectory followed by Halley's Comet. Therefore, scientists are desperately working hard in a bid to find a solution. (AP)

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1/5 The James Webb Space Telescope is currently 1.5 million Kms away from Earth and orbiting the Sun. However, it is now due to enter the trajectory followed by Halley's Comet. Therefore, scientists are desperately working hard in a bid to find a solution. (AP)

Halley’s Comet passes the Earth every 75 years. The James Webb Space Telescope is not going to be directly hit by the comet but could be on the receiving end of substantial damage by the micro-meteoroids left in the trail of Halley’s Comet. Comets are basically made from dust, rocks and ice, hence they melt and shed material when they come close to the Sun. In this process, comets eject a stream of debris on their way. (Pixabay)

2/5 Halley’s Comet passes the Earth every 75 years. The James Webb Space Telescope is not going to be directly hit by the comet but could be on the receiving end of substantial damage by the micro-meteoroids left in the trail of Halley’s Comet. Comets are basically made from dust, rocks and ice, hence they melt and shed material when they come close to the Sun. In this process, comets eject a stream of debris on their way. (Pixabay)

A Forbes report reveals that "Halley's comet itself is not going to strike the Webb telescope. Webb will probably be defunct by then, though it's hoped humanity's premier space observatory will last until the early 2040s.” (NASA)

3/5 A Forbes report reveals that "Halley's comet itself is not going to strike the Webb telescope. Webb will probably be defunct by then, though it's hoped humanity's premier space observatory will last until the early 2040s.” (NASA)

The telescope was previously hit by a micrometeoroid in May, 2022 which resulted in permanent damage to one of its important mirrors. Since the comet has left numerous micro-meteoroids in its trail, scientists are working hard to avoid the repetition of the previous incident and prevent fatal damage to the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope. (NASA )

4/5 The telescope was previously hit by a micrometeoroid in May, 2022 which resulted in permanent damage to one of its important mirrors. Since the comet has left numerous micro-meteoroids in its trail, scientists are working hard to avoid the repetition of the previous incident and prevent fatal damage to the $10 billion James Webb Space Telescope. (NASA )

A Nature report stated that, "Even tiny particles can cause physical damage to spacecraft when they hit as fast as a speeding bullet — the velocities reached in space.” Therefore, scientists must do everything in their power to find a solution. According to the report, NASA's meteoroid environment office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is currently calculating meteor-shower projections. It might involve adjusting Webb to aim away from the approaching particles in order to prevent them from hitting the mirrors. (NASA)

5/5 A Nature report stated that, "Even tiny particles can cause physical damage to spacecraft when they hit as fast as a speeding bullet — the velocities reached in space.” Therefore, scientists must do everything in their power to find a solution. According to the report, NASA's meteoroid environment office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is currently calculating meteor-shower projections. It might involve adjusting Webb to aim away from the approaching particles in order to prevent them from hitting the mirrors. (NASA)