Euclid Space Telescope Faces Complications During Mission
The Euclid space telescope, a joint project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, has encountered some challenges since its launch on July 1. The telescope, which is designed to map the geometry of the universe and study dark matter and dark energy, has faced issues with its Fine Guidance Sensor (FGS) and stray light affecting its images.
The FGS, which helps orient the telescope, has failed to track faint stars due to factors like cosmic rays that were difficult to simulate during ground tests. To address this anomaly, mission control extended Euclid’s commissioning phase and deployed a software update. Initial tests of the updated system have shown promising results, with more stars being detected, according to Micha Schmidt, Euclid’s operation manager.
Another issue arose when one of Euclid’s instruments picked up strange streaks of light, which were later determined to be caused by the sun. Despite a sunshield designed to protect the telescope, part of one of Euclid’s thrusters reflected a small amount of light that managed to evade the shield. This reflected light impacts approximately 10 percent of the images taken by Euclid’s Visible light instrument (VIS).
The impact of this stray light on Euclid’s mission remains uncertain. Researchers are working diligently to assess the extent of the problem and come up with possible solutions. The Euclid team is currently analyzing the affected images to determine the accuracy and reliability of the data captured.
Euclid is located at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2, sharing this space with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. This unique vantage point provides Euclid with a clear view of the whole sky. However, it also presents challenges such as stray light interference from the sun.
Despite these complications, the Euclid mission continues to move forward. The telescope’s primary focus is to unlock the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, which are believed to comprise 95 percent of the universe. Euclid’s survey operations are expected to begin in the near future, and scientists anticipate groundbreaking discoveries that will reshape our understanding of the cosmos.
As the mission progresses, the Euclid team remains committed to overcoming these obstacles and maximizing the telescope’s scientific potential. ESA and NASA are collaborating closely to ensure the success of this ambitious endeavor, and updates on the progress will be shared as new insights unfold.
