NASA's Roman Space Telescope Gets Solar Panels Installed
Technicians recently installed solar panels on NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a crucial step in completing the observatory. These panels, known as the Solar Array Sun Shield, will provide power and shade to the telescope, enabling its observations and maintaining instrument coolness. The project is on track for launch as early as fall 2026.

Technicians recently installed solar panels onto NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, marking one of the final steps in assembling the observatory. The Solar Array Sun Shield, as it is collectively called, will power and shade the observatory, enabling all the mission's observations and helping keep the instruments cool.
The observatory is now about 90% complete, with plans to connect the two halves and complete the Roman observatory by the end of the year. The team is on track for an earlier launch date, possibly in fall 2026.
Over two days, eight technicians installed the solar panels onto the outer portion of the telescope. Each of the six panels is about 23 by 33 feet and is fitted with photovoltaic cells to harness energy from sunlight. The panels were designed, built, and installed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.
The Solar Array Sun Shield consists of six panels covered in solar cells. The panels will provide power to the observatory's electronics and help keep the instruments cool by shading them. Excess warmth could blind the telescope, so maintaining a cool temperature is crucial for an infrared observatory.
The solar panels are covered in 3,902 solar cells that convert sunlight into electricity. The panels are designed to channel this energy to power the observatory. Next steps include testing the deployment of the solar panels and the observatory's visor, as well as conducting pre-launch tests.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is managed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with participation from various institutions and industrial partners.
According to the source: Mirage News.
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