141
It is noted that “Euclid” was sent into space in July last year, and in August the device reached its destination, but at the final part of the commissioning of the observatory, scientists found that the share of stellar radiation, which is collected by the VIS instrument, which is one of the key for the observatory, gradually became less and less.
In ESA explained what happened by the fact that on the mirror surfaces of the device appeared a build-up of water ice, the thickness of which was measured in nanometres. The reason for its appearance, according to the agency, was the deposition of water molecules absorbed by the multilayer insulation during the launch.