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Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Observatory Implementation and ChallengesNASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Roman) is a deep space infrared observatory with a Hubble-sized telescope and wide field of regard with a boresight view greater than 200 times that of the Hubble Wide Field Camera 3infrared field of view, that will conduct a suite of science surveys to characterize dark energy and expand the census of exoplanets in our galaxy. Roman will also demonstrate exoplanet coronagraphy with active wavefront control technology and provide general investigator opportunities for the science community. Roman is finishing the critical design phase and is planning for launch in 2026. It will operate at the second Sun-Earth-Moon Lagrange for a five-year primary mission life. The Observatory features a telescope with an existing, repurposed 2.4m primary mirror, a Wide Field Instrument with a near-infrared detector focal plane array and optical elements for imaging and spectroscopy, as well as a Coronagraph instrument technology demonstration for direct imaging and spectroscopy of exoplanets. The telescope and instruments are mounted to an Instrument Carrier for optical metering and isolation from Spacecraft-induced disturbances. The Spacecraft includes a Bus, Solar Array Sunshield, Deployable Aperture Cover, Outer Barrel Assembly, and Star Tracker/Inertial Reference Unit Bench. When fully integrated, Roman will be the largest Observatory assembled and tested at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The development of scientific satellites is challenging and pushes engineering boundaries to broaden scientific knowledge. The Roman mission implementation is a prime example and expected challenges have been amplified by the foundational decision to use existing, repurposed telescope components. Other unique aspects of the Roman mission, including its survey nature, large data volume, and Observatory packaging, create constrained design spaces that drive competing requirements across Observatory subsystems. Given these challenges, systems engineering has been a critical discipline in balancing implementation decisions and will continue to play a key role in the development of the Roman mission. This paper will discuss details of the Roman Observatory configuration, systems engineering challenges and the decision-making process used to mature the Roman Space Telescope from preliminary design to implementation.
Document ID
20210021677
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lisa M L Bartusek
(Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland, United States)
Jody L Davis
(Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland, United States)
Melissa F Vess
(Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland, United States)
Date Acquired
September 15, 2021
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: 2022 IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: US
Start Date: March 5, 2022
End Date: March 12, 2022
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Funding Number(s)
WBS: 134180.02.01
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
Technical Review
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