NASA has successfully completed tests on one half of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, marking a major milestone in the observatory’s development. The achievement comes as the White House plans to slash NASA’s budget by 24% next year, affecting major projects like the Gateway moon-orbiting space station and Mars sample return.
Engineers have attached key components, including the deployable aperture cover and test solar panels, and simulated extreme temperatures in a vacuum chamber. This setup ensures the instruments will remain stable operating temperatures even in harsh conditions, such as extreme heat or freezing temperatures, in space.
The telescope’s two main sections are expected to be connected later this year, followed by final testing and launch preparations at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Launch is currently scheduled for early 2027, although the timeline may be affected by the impending budget cut.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the budget, engineers remain committed to completing the Roman Space Telescope project. The observatory will provide critical astronomical observations once it reaches space and nearly a million miles from Earth.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/missions/nasa-continues-building-next-gen-roman-space-telescope-despite-budget-worries