The James Webb Space Telescope is the largest and most powerful one NASA has ever launched, and it has already suffered massive damage from a larger micrometeorite strike that occurred in May. The telescope was built in collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency and is made of precious technology. It also carries the largest mirror ever attached to a space telescope that is meant to allow it to observe events in space that were previously inaccessible to humanity.

NASA Planned for tThe James Webb to Be Hit by Micrometeorites

In order for the James Webb Space Telescope to fulfill its mission, NASA, ESA, and CSA have ensured it will be able to remain operational for years to come. However, concerns were raised over the longevity of the telescope when it was determined that in May 2022, it was hit by a micrometeorite that was larger than most. Fortunately, the operations of the telescope were not affected in a big way, but scientists believe the long-term effects of other such impacts over time make it unpredictable to determine how long it will remain operational.

Because the James Webb is in deep space at one of the stable Lagrange points, any problems that arise due to damage cannot be fixed. This means that the lifetime of the telescope depends on the number of micrometeoroid impacts and the way they degrade the primary mirror.

NASA Says, so far, TJWST Has Been Struck by Micrometeorites Six Times

According to NASA, since its launch, the Telescope has been struck by six micrometeorites. While the first five collisions were with very small micrometeorites that leave a negligible amount of damage, the sixth one caused comparatively more serious damage. According to scientists, it hit segment C3 between the 22nd and 24th of May this year and caused a significant irreparable change in the figure of the segment. Again, according to scientists, the damage to the panel will not impact the telescope’s image-taking abilities at all.

Charged Particles Will Also Degrade the Capability of TJWST Over Time

The scientists at NASA also expect that the telescope’s detectors will be gradually damaged by charged particles that are all over space. While the sun-shield and innovative five-layer insulation will protect the James Webb from space weathering for a long time, its mirror will be exposed to space and will face both charged particles and micrometeoroid strikes head-on.

The nearly 10$ billion space telescope was launched after decades of development on Christmas Day in 2021, and earlier this month, NASA revealed the first images that it captured – stunning viewers from all around the universe.

Only a month after Carl Nassib became the first NFL athlete to come out as homosexual, Luke Prokop of the Nashville Predators became the first active player under an NHL contract to do so on Tuesday. This is momentous and breakthrough news to those who have always appreciated and valued sports. But is this the new normal for the next generation of young sports enthusiasts and players?

Luke Prokop Opened up to the World

Professional male sportsmen are idolized in society for their incredible toughness, masculinity, and, perhaps most importantly, their bravery on the court, pitch, field, or arena floor. Isn’t it strange that some of the strongest and most courageous among them are terrified of being themselves and losing a game/career that they’ve spent countless years perfecting? Many LGBTQ+ male athletes have been afraid to live an open and true life outside of their sport. Choosing between liking yourself and enjoying your sport is an impossible choice that has proven to be an ultimatum and, ultimately, a downfall for countless professional athletes.

Fear of What?

So, what were we afraid of? And why is that? Many of the current cautions to athletes were antiquated conceptions of loss and consequence based on little to no actual data or instances. Whether it was conservative fans who wanted football to be a place where they wouldn’t be judged for their views on exclusion, or owners who were solely interested in making money, the athletic world has finally moved on from this antiquated idea. Every male professional player who has come out before Luke Prokop’s confession has contributed to the breakdown of this fear-based mindset. We are on the edge of the most open and progressive age in male sports history, now that the hate and bigotry against LGBTQ+ male athletes have lost their anonymous and nameless perpetrators.

Let’s leave Luke Prokop’s confession aside for a minute. Those who have spent their entire lives seeing people who look, love, and believe like them sometimes forget the value of representation. When it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusivity, politics, movies, and television have all been years ahead of masculine sports. Sports seemed like the only place many people didn’t belong since they didn’t see anyone who looked like them there. The only industry with such low numbers is professional male athletes, which people can count on one hand. Look to our female sports leagues, for an example, of how to build a league that is not only inclusive but also allows its athletes to be themselves and speak up for who they are and what they believe in. They have been setting the example and laying the groundwork for years.