NASA's Roman Space Telescope Visor Completes Environmental Tests

Visor undergoes acoustic testing at Goddard Space Flight Center

Preparing for launch in the mid-2020s

The visor for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope recently completed several environmental tests at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The visor is one of the most important components of the telescope, protecting the telescope's optics from the harsh environment of space. The tests helped ensure that the visor can withstand the extreme temperatures, vibrations, and acoustic noise that it will encounter during launch and deployment.

The visor is made of a lightweight carbon fiber composite material. It is 6.5 meters in diameter and weighs about 1,100 pounds. The visor is attached to the telescope's primary mirror, which is 2.4 meters in diameter. The primary mirror is the telescope's main optical element, and it collects and focuses light from distant objects.

The visor is designed to protect the primary mirror from dust, debris, and other particles that could damage the mirror's surface. The visor also helps to reduce the amount of stray light that enters the telescope, which can interfere with the telescope's ability to collect and focus light from distant objects.

The environmental tests that the visor underwent included exposure to extreme temperatures, vibrations, and acoustic noise. The visor was also tested for its ability to withstand the vacuum of space. The tests helped to ensure that the visor can withstand the harsh environment of space and that it will be able to protect the telescope's optics for years to come.

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is scheduled to launch in the mid-2020s. The telescope will be used to study dark energy, dark matter, and the evolution of galaxies. The telescope will also be used to search for exoplanets, which are planets that orbit stars other than the Sun.

The visor is a critical component of the Roman Space Telescope, and the successful completion of the environmental tests is a major milestone in the development of the telescope. The tests helped to ensure that the visor will be able to protect the telescope's optics and that the telescope will be able to successfully complete its mission.