One Half of Nasa’s Nearly Complete Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Just Passed A Lengthy Test to Ensure it will function properly in the space environment. This Milestone Keeps Roman Well on Track for Its Target Launch by May 2027, with the team aiming for as early as Fall 2026.
“This Milestone Tees Us Up to Attach The Flight Solar Array Sun Shield to the Outer Barrel Assembly, and Deployable Aperture Cover, Which We’ll Begin this month,” Said Jack Marshalll, Who Leads Integation and Testing for these elements at nasa’s Goddard space flight center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “Then We’ll Complete Remaining Environmental Tests for the Flight Assembly Before Moving on to Connect Roman’s Two Major Assembles and Run the Full Observatory Through Testing, and then THEN WE’Le Launch! “
Prior to this Thermal Testing, Technicians Integrated Roman’s Deployable Aperture Cover, A Visor-Like Sunshade, to the Outer Barrel Assembly, which will house the telescope and instroly Added test solar panels in March. They moved this whole structure into the space environment Simulator Test Chamber at Nasa Goddard in April.
There, it was subjected to the hot and cold temperatures it will experience in space. Next, Technicians will join Roman’s Flight Solar Panels to the Outer Barrel Assembly and Sunshade. Then the structure will undergo a suite of assessments, including a shake test to ensure it can withstand the vibrations experienced during launch.
Meanwhile, Roman’s other Major Portion – The Spacecraft and Integrated Payload Assembly, which consists of the telescope, instrument carrier, instrument carrier, and Two instruments – With additional assessments. Technicians will install the lower instrument sun shade And put this half of the observator through a thermal vacuum test in the space environment simulator.
“The Test Verifies The Instruments will remain at stable operating template the sun bakes one side of the observation and the other is expected to freezing conditions – all in a Vacuum, Ware in a VACUUUM, WAHERE HASESN SOCUUM, As readily as it does through air, “said jeremy perkins, an astroophyssicist serving as roman’s observator Integration and Test Scientist at Nasa Goddard. Keeping the instrument temperatures stable ensures their readings will be precedes and reliable.
Technicians are on track to connect roman’s two major parts in November, resulting in a complete observation by the end of the year. Following Final Tests, Roman is expected to the launch site at nasa’s kennedy space center in Florida for launch preparations in summer 2026. Aiming for launch as early as Fall 2026.
To virtually tour an interactive version of the telescope, visit:
https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/interactive
The nancy grace roman space telescope is managed at nasa’s Goddard space flight center in greenbelt, Maryland, with Participation by Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory In Southerthan Californn Califronn Califronn Californnia; Caltech/IPAC in Pasadena, California; The space telescope science institute in Baltimore; And a Science Team Comprising Scientists from Various Research Institutions. The Primary Industrial Partners are Bae Systems Inc. in boulder, colorado; L3harris Technologies in Rochester, New York; And tledyne scientific & imaging in thousand oaks, california.
By Ashley Balzer
Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight CenterGreenbelt, md.
Media contact:
Claire Andreoli
Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Center
301-286-1940
