In a release published yesterday, the agency stated that the issue started on January 15, when a communications delay within the instrument caused its flight software to time out.

NIRISS’ flight software timing out doesn’t mean that Webb is about to spin out of position or anything else disastrous.

While its scientific instruments were commissioned without issue, in May one of Webb’s mirrors was struck by a micrometeoroid —a very small rock sailing through space—causing damage, though the team said the telescope’s optical performance was still twice as good as required.

In August, the telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (or MIRI) had a software glitch that paused its operations through November.

The glitch put the telescope into safe mode multiple times last month.

Webb has done some tremendous work so far and will continue to illuminate the most ancient and murky regions of the cosmos.