TLDR: We knew micrometeorites would happen, just not one this big so soon. We've corrected four small ones already. We barely got away with correcting this one, because luckily there is a large performance margin built into the image gathering pipeline. We're studying how many more big whoopsies might occur and what effect that might have on the telescope's future.
I wonder if having an impact that was larger than modeled so early on in JWST's mission is a foreboding sign for its lifespan.
I wonder if having an impact that was larger than modeled so early on in JWST's mission is a foreboding sign for its lifespan.