Galaxy mapper's first discovery

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Galaxy mapper's first discovery: surprise space debris

A robotic galaxy mapper may have just made its first discovery – by surviving an unexpected onslaught of space debris.

Scientists working with the European Space Agency's Gaia satellite have found that the spacecraft is being peppered by far more micrometeoroids – tiny specks of space dust – than had been anticipated. The strikes shouldn't put Gaia in danger, although mission scientists will have to watch closely as the spacecraft begins its scientific observations. And the discovery might spell trouble for future spacecraft headed to the same orbital position.

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