NASA’s Juno space probe, orbiting Jupiter, has overcome significant radiation damage to its camera, JunoCam, thanks to a repurposed heating process called annealing. Despite being designed for only eight orbits, the camera remains operational, capturing images of Jupiter and its moons. The damage was caused by high-energy particles from the sun and cosmic rays, which are trapped within Jupiter’s strong magnetic field.
Initially intended solely for public outreach, JunoCam was not protected by a radiation vault, leaving it exposed to radiation belts around Jupiter. However, after multiple attempts, the team successfully used annealing to remove defects and corruption caused by radiation damage. The fix allowed JunoCam to produce clear images during the probe’s flyby of Jupiter’s moon Io.
The success demonstrates significant advancements in radiation protection and repair technology for space travel. With JunoCam still operating on its 76th orbit, the team’s quick thinking has ensured the mission continues to explore Jupiter’s origin and evolution. The repurposed annealing process paves the way for future technological innovations in space exploration.
Source: https://www.jpost.com/science/space/article-861879