> Science Operations of NASA's Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER) mounted on the International Space Station (ISS), have been suspended since mid-June due to a critical hardware issue. The $67 million X-ray telescope that studies neutron stars, black holes, and other cosmic phenomena, suffered a malfunction in a key motor responsible for its side-to-side movement. This fault has rendered NICER unable to track celestial targets, forcing the suspension of its scientific operations. Since the issue emerged on June 17, NASA engineers have been working diligently to diagnose the problem. The mission team is prioritising moving NICER into a safe 'stowed' configuration to ensure it does not interfere with ISS operations. Science operations by our NICER telescope, which has observed the X-ray universe from its perch on the @Space_Station since 2017, remain paused. The team continues to evaluate the telescope’s systems after an issue developed with one of its motors. More: https://t.co/LMvPYXYyMM pic.twitter.com/RvIHVc6oWH — NASA Universe (@NASAUniverse) August 5, 2025 "The NICER team paused operations June 17 when performance degradation in the motor began affecting science observations. Engineers are investigating the cause and potential solutions," NASA said in a statement. Robotic cameras on the ISS are capturing external imagery to rule out any physical damage or external factors, while ground teams collaborate with astronauts aboard the station to investigate the telescope's internal payload.