NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has reached a significant milestone with the delivery of its Optical Telescope Assembly to the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland on November 7. This assembly features a 7.9-foot primary mirror and nine additional mirrors designed to capture cosmic light, enabling astronomers to survey billions of celestial objects.
The telescope's Wide Field Instrument, equipped with a 300-megapixel infrared camera, will allow scientists to explore the universe from the solar system's outskirts to the observable universe's edge. Additionally, the Coronagraph Instrument will test innovative technologies for imaging distant planets and their surrounding disks.
Bente Eegholm, the optics lead for the assembly, expressed optimism about the telescope's performance, stating it is well-aligned and capable of functioning in the cold temperatures of space. The assembly was developed by L3Harris Technologies, utilizing spare parts provided by NASA, ensuring compliance with Roman's specifications for infrared observations.
Extensive testing was conducted to ensure the assembly meets stringent requirements, including simulating launch conditions and assessing temperature stability. The telescope underwent a rigorous 25-day thermal vacuum test to confirm its ability to operate in space's extreme environment.
With the assembly now at Goddard, the next steps involve integrating it with Roman's Instrument Carrier. The telescope remains on schedule for launch by May 2027, marking a pivotal moment in the mission's development.
Roman's management involves collaboration among multiple NASA centers and research institutions, with key industrial partners contributing to the project. This achievement signifies a crucial step in advancing our understanding of the universe.