NASA has made a major breakthrough in the development of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, upgrading its Outer Barrel Assembly , the ” exoskeleton ” that protects the telescope from temperature fluctuations and stray light, by completing a spin test at the Goddard Space Flight Center .
Exoskeleton strength testing
During the test, the structure withstood forces of up to 7 g ( seven times the Earth’s gravity ), rotating at 130 km/h. This success prepares the final assembly of the telescope and guarantees its durability on future missions in space.
The Outer Barrel Assembly is important to the performance of the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope by ensuring stable temperature and protection from “unwanted light.” The recent spin test, which was performed in parts due to the size of the structure, was a significant challenge in simulating the extreme conditions of outer space. The design incorporates carbon fibers and reinforced plastics , ensuring that the structure is lightweight and rigid enough to withstand the conditions of launch and space maneuvers.
The NASA team separated the test into two phases: the first phase evaluated the lower portion, known as the “elephant mount,” while the second phase subjected the telescope’s “house” to the extreme forces of the centrifuge. Finally, the structure was subjected to 18.4 rotations per minute, generating forces of up to 7 g, replicating the stresses of space launch.
Goddard’s chief product designer, Jay Parker, said the structure is about 5 meters tall and 4 meters wide, making it one of the largest components of the telescope. The exoskeleton is designed to be lightweight by using an internal structure similar to a honeycomb, which offers greater strength and less material usage.
Preparing the Space Telescope for 2027
With this successful test, the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope is moving toward final integration. The exoskeleton will be assembled with the solar panels and deployable aperture cover by the end of 2024. In 2025, the completed structure will undergo additional thermal vacuum and vibration testing to simulate the extreme conditions of space and ensure the telescope can withstand the vibrations of launch.
The Nancy Grace Roman , scheduled for launch in 2027, will be a next-generation space telescope that will seek to peer into the expansion of the universe and study astrophysical phenomena such as dark energy and dark matter.
The Space Telescope System and Assembly. Source: NASA Goddard
It will also capture high-resolution images of vast areas of the cosmos. It is being managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in collaboration with several scientific institutions and industrial partners, including BAE Systems , L3Harris Technologies and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging .
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Source and photo: NASA
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