The Digital Press

NASA successfully restored the Juno spacecraft’s camera, which had suffered radiation damage after prolonged exposure near Jupiter, using a heating technique called annealing. This recovery allowed JunoCam to capture detailed images of Jupiter’s moon Io during a close flyby.

Why it matters: Annealing saved a critical camera 370 million miles away, extending its mission life and scientific output.

The big picture: Juno’s radiation tolerance lessons will aid future spacecraft and satellites operating in harsh radiation environments.

Testing limits: After initial recovery, radiation damage reappeared, but repeated annealing kept JunoCam functioning through 74 orbits.

Commenters say: Readers admire the ingenuity of remote repairs and emphasize the importance of radiation-hardened technology for deep-space missions.