Photo credit: www.nasa.gov
The team behind NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has achieved a significant milestone by integrating the mission’s deployable aperture cover. This cover, resembling a visor or sunshade, is designed to block unwanted light from entering the telescope and to help maintain a stable temperature.
“Witnessing the transformation of these critical components from digital designs to actual physical structures and their integration has been an extraordinary journey,” stated Sheri Thorn, an aerospace engineer involved in the project at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, located in Greenbelt, Maryland. “Being at Goddard during this process feels like watching a child grow, and it is profoundly gratifying.”
The sunshade operates similarly to heavy blackout curtains, enhancing the telescope’s ability to detect faint light from distant celestial objects. Constructed from two layers of reinforced thermal blankets, the sunshade remains folded during the launch phase and will deploy once the Roman is in space. The deployment mechanism includes three booms that will extend upward at the press of a button, raising the sunshade akin to a pop-up book.
Designed with durability in mind, the sunshade features an inner and outer layer with a space of about an inch between them, akin to a double-paned window. “We are well-equipped for potential micrometeoroid impacts in space, and the blanket is significantly fortified,” explained Brian Simpson, the lead on the deployable aperture cover. “One of the layers is reinforced with Kevlar, a material commonly used in bulletproof vests. The spacing between layers minimizes the possibility of light penetrating through both layers simultaneously.”
Technicians dedicated several hours to meticulously attach the sunshade to the outer barrel assembly, both engineered at Goddard, within the facility’s largest clean room. This assembly plays a crucial role in maintaining a consistent temperature for the telescope and, along with the sunshade, provides protection from stray light and micrometeoroid threats. Fitted with heaters, it aims to prevent dramatic temperature fluctuations that could affect the telescope’s mirrors.
“The Roman Telescope comprises many distinct components that culminate from years of design and construction,” remarked Laurence Madison, a mechanical engineer at Goddard. “The deployable aperture cover and outer barrel assembly were developed simultaneously, and prior to integration, both teams relied on reference drawings to ensure compatibility. Thus, bringing them together successfully was both an exhilarating and a relieving experience.”
Both components have undergone extensive testing individually, and with their recent connection, engineers are now re-evaluating their performance. To begin this assessment, the deployment mechanism of the sunshade was tested.
“Given that the sunshade is designed to operate in space, its deployment system isn’t sufficiently strong to function under Earth’s gravitational pull,” noted Matthew Neuman, a mechanical engineer who works on the sunshade at Goddard. “To counterbalance its weight, we employed a gravity negation system to validate that everything operates as intended.”
Moving forward, the integrated components will undergo thermal vacuum testing to simulate the conditions of space, followed by a shake test to prepare for the intense vibrations expected during launch. Additionally, Roman’s solar panels will be attached to both the outer barrel assembly and sunshade this spring, with full integration expected by the end of the year.
The Roman mission has reached a critical juncture known as Key Decision Point-D, signifying the completion of the fabrication stage and the commencement of assembly, integration, testing, and preparations for launch. The observatory remains on schedule for full completion in the fall of 2026, with a targeted launch no later than May 2027.
For those interested in exploring an interactive virtual tour of the telescope, please visit:
https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/interactive/
Source
www.nasa.gov