The spacecraft OSIRIS-APEX is equipped with the StowCam camera, which was used to capture images of its surroundings. Images taken six months apart before and after the Jan. 2, 2024 perihelion were compared, and there was no visible difference on the spacecraft’s surfaces. This indicates that the higher temperatures experienced during perihelion did not have any impact on the spacecraft. Additionally, it was observed that the camera’s performance was not affected by the perihelion either.
StowCam is a color imager and part of TAGCAMS (the Touch-and-Go Camera System), which is OSIRIS-APEX’s guidance, navigation, and control system. TAGCAMS was developed, constructed, and tested by Malin Space Science Systems, with Lockheed Martin integrating TAGCAMS into the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft and managing its operation. These findings provide valuable insights into how the spacecraft and its systems are able to withstand extreme conditions during perihelion.
