Annealing Saves Space Cameras

Heating radiation‑damaged imaging sensors aboard Juno restored image quality, letting the decade‑old spacecraft keep producing high‑value science. The procedure (raising JunoCam to about 77°F) is documented and immediately reproducible as an operations technique for other long‑duration missions. — If proven broadly applicable, in‑flight annealing changes mission economics and planning — enabling cheaper mission extensions, altering launch schedules, and shifting investment decisions between new missions and servicing/repair techniques.