The Euclid space telescope is currently experiencing a problem with ice accumulation on its mirrors and lenses.
This has caused a small but progressive decrease in the amount of starlight that the telescope is capturing.
The Euclid space telescope, launched in July 2021 by the European Space Agency (ESA), is currently experiencing a problem with ice accumulation on its mirrors and lenses. This has caused a small but progressive decrease in the amount of starlight that the telescope is capturing. Scientists are now working to de-ice Euclid from a million miles away by heating low-risk optical parts of the spacecraft, which will help keep it ice-free for its six-year life in orbit.
Euclid is a spacecraft of the European Space Agency (ESA) that was launched in July 2021 to study dark energy and exoplanets.
Ice layers have accumulated on Euclid's mirrors, which has caused a small but progressive decrease in the amount of starlight it is capturing.
Scientists are de-icing Euclid from a million miles away by heating low-risk optical parts of the spacecraft to evaporate ice molecules that have accumulated on its mirrors.
The problem with water contamination in space telescopes is not entirely uncommon and it was expected that some amount would survive after launch.
Euclid's visible instrument (VIS) collects visible light from stars similar to how a smartphone camera operates, but with 100 times as many pixels. Its resolution is equivalent to a 4K screen.
The easiest solution would be to heat the entire spacecraft, but doing so would also warm up its mechanical structure and impact data quality.
Euclid's telescope systems are influenced by even the tiniest of temperature changes, which could limit its vision and data gathering ability if not properly maintained.
The de-icing campaign is expected to keep Euclid's systems ice-free for the rest of its six-year life in orbit.
Euclid has already encountered one problem with a sensor that incorrectly tagged cosmic rays as stars, which was fixed a month later.
Scientists expect tiny amounts of water to continue being released over Euclid's lifetime and the de-icing campaign is just one way they are addressing this issue.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority when it quotes ESA's statement about the de-icing process. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by describing the ice layers as a 'small but progressive decrease' in starlight capture and stating that tiny amounts of water will continue being released over Euclid's six-year life in orbit, which could keep its systems ice-free for the rest of its mission. The author also uses an informal fallacy by describing the de-icing process as a 'first time procedure', even though it is not explicitly stated that this is the first time such a procedure has been attempted on Euclid.
ESA's statement about the de-icing process
Inflammatory rhetoric used to describe ice layers and water release
Use of informal fallacy by describing de-icing as a 'first time procedure'
Water molecules released from certain components in Euclid have been gradually building up and contaminating its optical system
Several layers of water molecules are likely frozen onto mirrors in Euclid's optics, equivalent to a few tens of nanometres thick
Accuracy
Euclid's vision is being impacted by a few layers of water ice that are starting to fog the mission's optics
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it states Euclid's vision fogs as it steps outside when the actual problem is water molecules sticking to the optics. The author also claims that some stars vary in their luminosity but does not provide any evidence or explanation for this claim.
some stars in the Universe vary in their luminosity, but the majority are stable for many millions of years. So, when our instruments detected a faint, gradual decline in photons coming in, we knew it wasn't them
Euclid’s vision fogs as it steps ‘outside’
Fallacies
(85%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses the issue of water ice building up on Euclid's optics and causing problems for its observations. The author mentions that this is a common problem faced by spacecraft in cold environments but it is particularly challenging for sensitive missions like Euclid which require precise measurements. They mention that several layers of water molecules are likely frozen onto mirrors in Euclid's optics, and the team has come up with a plan to understand where the ice is located and mitigate its impact now and in the future if it continues to accumulate.
Several layers of water molecules are likely frozen onto mirrors in Euclid's optics
The easiest option would be to use the decontamination procedure developed well before launch and heat the entire spacecraft. Teams at mission control would send commands to turn on every onboard heater for several days, slowly increasing temperatures from about 140 C to, in some parts of the spacecraft, a balmy 3C.
The team will begin by individually heating low-risk optical parts of the spacecraft located in areas where water released is unlikely to contaminate other instruments or optics. They will start with two of Euclid's mirrors that can be warmed up independently.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author of the article is a calibration scientist for the Euclid consortium and one of the main designers of the new de-icing plan. This creates a conflict of interest as they have financial ties to ESA and may be hesitant to report on negative side effects or issues with their own design.
The article mentions that 'calibration scientist for the Euclid consortium and one of the main designers of the new de-icing plan' is Mischa Schirmer. This creates a conflict of interest as they have financial ties to ESA.
Euclid is a space telescope launched in July 2021 to chart a third of the sky
The ESA hopes Euclid will reveal more about the nature of dark matter and dark energy, which are thought to make up 95 percent of the universe but remain shrouded in mystery
During checks in November, scientists noticed that they were losing light coming into Euclid's visible light imager due to a layer of ice building up on its optical surfaces
The problem is a thin layer of ice just the width of a strand of DNA that has accumulated on Euclid's mirrors and lenses
If the partial warming plan fails, the ESA will have to heat up the whole spacecraft
Accuracy
Scientists are trying to melt the ice by warming two of Euclid's mirrors, which will last until Thursday. The scientists may not know if it works until mid-April.
The first images released from Euclid depict swirling galaxies bursting with color in distant cosmos
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Euclid's vision is being clouded by ice but fails to mention that this problem has been known since November and was caused by a layer of ice just the width of a strand of DNA on Euclid's optical surfaces. Secondly, the article states that scientists are trying to melt this layer of ice but does not provide any information about how they plan to do so or what their success rate is. Thirdly, the author claims that keeping out water is a common problem for all spacecraft but fails to mention that Euclid's mirrors were specifically designed with anti-icing systems in place. Finally, the article states that if the partial warming plan fails then Euclid will have to heat up its entire spacecraft which could result in a six-month delay but does not provide any information about what this would entail or how it would affect Euclid's mission.
The article states that scientists are trying to melt this layer of ice but does not provide any information about how they plan to do so or what their success rate is.
The author claims that ice is clouding the vision of the dark universe detective space telescope Euclid, when in fact this problem has been known since November and was caused by a layer of ice just the width of a strand of DNA on Euclid's optical surfaces.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Euclid is a European Space Agency space telescope without providing any evidence or context for its credibility. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing the ice as 'a big problem' and suggesting that it could delay the mission if not addressed promptly.
Euclid is a European Space Agency space telescope
The ice is building up on Euclid’s optical surfaces
This "minimally invasive" partial warming will last until Thursday, Kohley said. The scientists may not know if it works until mid-April.
If the team have to do this every year during the telescope’s planned-six year mission it could result in a six-month delay.
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses the technical setbacks that Euclid space telescope is facing. The first problem mentioned in the article is a layer of ice building up on the telescope's optical surfaces which is clouding its vision. This can be seen as an example of bias because it presents this issue as if it were solely caused by external factors, rather than any inherent flaws or limitations with Euclid itself.
If nothing can be done about particularly strong solar flares occasionally projecting X-ray images on the visible imager.
It is not clear exactly where this ice accumulates or how much there is.
Scientists are trying to melt a thin layer of ice that is increasingly clouding the vision of the 'dark universe detective' space telescope Euclid,
Stars sparkle in one of the first images taken by Euclid -- but ice is clouding the space telescope's vision.
Ice clouds observations by Europe Euclid telescope
Sources: Cnes, ESA, NASA, Emmanuel Trelat.
Theory of control Lagrange points and space exploration Image CNRS 2010 Ice clouds observations by Europe
Accuracy
SOPHIE STUBER Text size Update Platform Shield and solar panels On-board heaters Heat the telescope to get rid of traces of water. But heat expands the materials, and telescope recalibration takes at least one month Euclid orbit 1.5 million km 150 million km Not to scale Moon Earth Sun Telescope A thin layer of ice, the width of a strand of DNA, accumulated on optical tools
The theory of control Lagrange points and space exploration Image CNRS 2010 Ice clouds observations by Europe
Deception
(50%)
The article contains deceptive practices such as selective reporting and sensationalism. The author states that a thin layer of ice accumulated on the optical tools but does not provide any context or explanation for what this means or how it affects the telescope's observations. Additionally, the author uses phrases like 'on-board heaters Heat the telescope to get rid of traces of water.' which is sensational and misleading.
On-board heaters Heat the telescope to get rid of traces of water.
The thin layer of ice on optical tools
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. Firstly, the author uses an appeal to authority by stating that sources such as Cnes and ESA are reliable without providing any evidence for their credibility. Secondly, the author commits a false dilemma by presenting only two options: either heat expands materials or telescope recalibration takes at least one month. This oversimplifies the situation and ignores other possible solutions that could be considered. Thirdly, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric when stating that ice clouds accumulated on optical tools are a
Ice clouds observations by Europe Euclid telescope
