Space is a harsh and unforgiving environment. NASA confirmed this week that one of JWST's primary mirror segments (segment C3) sustained a strike from a micrometeoroid that was larger than pre-launch models had anticipated.

While the idea of a space rock hitting our pristine ten-billion-dollar observatory is terrifying, the engineers always knew this would happen. The telescope is entirely exposed to space, unlike Hubble which is enclosed in a protective tube. The team has already adjusted the C3 mirror segment to cancel out a portion of the optical distortion caused by the impact.

Thankfully, the telescope is still performing well above its baseline requirements, but it is a stark reminder of the hazards of deep space.

Webb: Engineered to Endure Micrometeoroid Impacts