A robotic arm failure has raised concerns about the stability of the TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) mission. The issue was discovered by NASA scientists after an initial report of a malfunctioning reaction wheel.
According to NASA, two of the three reaction wheels that control the spacecraft's alignment have failed. Reaction wheels are critical components used to maintain the telescope's position in space. One failure is not unusual, but having two fail simultaneously increases concerns about the overall stability of the spacecraft.
The affected reaction wheels and a thruster system on board the TESS are still operational. However, NASA acknowledges that these issues could affect the quality of data collected by the satellite, including its precise measurements of exoplanet sizes and orbits.