Euclid’s mission faces a unique challenge as ice begins to impact its vision in space, requiring a precise and innovative de-icing procedure to keep the optics ice-free. The gradual release of water molecules from the spacecraft components in the vacuum of space leads to ice formation on Euclid’s sensitive mirrors, affecting the amount of light measured from stars. The team across Europe has developed a plan involving heating specific optical parts to mitigate the ice’s impact on the mission’s observations. This marks the first time such a procedure is being implemented, shedding light on a common yet under-researched issue in spacecraft operations.
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Euclid/Operations_begin_to_de-ice_Euclid_s_vision