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By Amazing Space
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By NASA
One half of NASA’s nearly complete Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope just passed a lengthy test to ensure it will function properly in the space environment. This milestone keeps Roman well on track for its target launch by May 2027, with the team aiming for as early as fall 2026.
This photo shows half of the NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman observatory — the outer barrel assembly, deployable aperture cover, and test solar arrays — fully deployed in a thermal chamber at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., for environmental testing. Credit: NASA/Sydney Rohde “This milestone tees us up to attach the flight solar array sun shield to the outer barrel assembly, and deployable aperture cover, which we’ll begin this month,” said Jack Marshall, who leads integration and testing for these elements at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “Then we’ll complete remaining environmental tests for the flight assembly before moving on to connect Roman’s two major assemblies and run the full observatory through testing, and then we’ll be ready to launch!”
Prior to this thermal testing, technicians integrated Roman’s deployable aperture cover, a visor-like sunshade, to the outer barrel assembly, which will house the telescope and instruments, in January, then added test solar panels in March. They moved this whole structure into the Space Environment Simulator test chamber at NASA Goddard in April.
There, it was subjected to the hot and cold temperatures it will experience in space. Next, technicians will join Roman’s flight solar panels to the outer barrel assembly and sunshade. Then the structure will undergo a suite of assessments, including a shake test to ensure it can withstand the vibrations experienced during launch.
This photo captures the installation of the test solar panels for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which took place in March. One panel is lifted in the center of the frame on its way to being attached to the outer barrel assembly at right. The deployable aperture cover is stowed on the front of the outer barrel assembly, and the other half of the observatory — the spacecraft and integrated payload assembly, which consists of the telescope, instrument carrier, and two instruments — appears at the left of the photo.Credit: NASA/Jolearra Tshiteya Meanwhile, Roman’s other major portion — the spacecraft and integrated payload assembly, which consists of the telescope, instrument carrier, and two instruments — will undergo its own shake test, along with additional assessments. Technicians will install the lower instrument sun shade and put this half of the observatory through a thermal vacuum test in the Space Environment Simulator.
“The test verifies the instruments will remain at stable operating temperatures even while the Sun bakes one side of the observatory and the other is exposed to freezing conditions — all in a vacuum, where heat doesn’t flow as readily as it does through air,” said Jeremy Perkins, an astrophysicist serving as Roman’s observatory integration and test scientist at NASA Goddard. Keeping the instrument temperatures stable ensures their readings will be precise and reliable.
Technicians are on track to connect Roman’s two major parts in November, resulting in a complete observatory by the end of the year. Following final tests, Roman is expected to ship to the launch site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for launch preparations in summer 2026. Roman remains on schedule for launch by May 2027, with the team aiming for launch as early as fall 2026.
This infographic shows the two major subsystems that make up NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The subsystems are each undergoing testing prior to being joined together this fall.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center To virtually tour an interactive version of the telescope, visit:
https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/interactive
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is managed at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, with participation by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California; Caltech/IPAC in Pasadena, California; the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore; and a science team comprising scientists from various research institutions. The primary industrial partners are BAE Systems Inc. in Boulder, Colorado; L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York; and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging in Thousand Oaks, California.
By Ashley Balzer
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
Media Contact:
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
301-286-1940
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Last Updated May 07, 2025 EditorAshley BalzerContactAshley Balzerashley.m.balzer@nasa.govLocationNASA Goddard Space Flight Center Related Terms
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By NASA
Dave Gallagher will become the director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California on Monday, June 2. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech The following is a statement from acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro on the appointment of David Gallagher as director of the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California. NASA JPL announced Wednesday Laurie Leshin would step down effective Sunday, June 1.
“Laurie Leshin’s leadership at JPL has been nothing short of extraordinary. She brought a sharp scientific mind, a strong sense purpose, and a clear vision that helped propel the lab forward during a pivotal time. From groundbreaking missions to remarkable technological milestones, Laurie advanced JPL’s legacy of exploration and innovation. We are grateful for her service and wish her the very best as she continues to inspire in the next phase of her career.
“I’m equally confident in Dave Gallagher’s ability to lead JPL’s next chapter. He brings decades of experience, a steady hand, and a deep understanding of what makes JPL unique. With Dave at the helm, JPL remains well-positioned to continue delivering for NASA and the nation – pushing the boundaries of science and discovery for the benefit of all.”
For more information about NASA, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov
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Bethany Stevens / Amber Jacobson
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov / amber.c.jacobson@nasa.gov
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Last Updated May 07, 2025 EditorJennifer M. DoorenLocationNASA Headquarters Related Terms
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By NASA
NASA and the Sam Houston Area Council (SHAC) of Scouting America signed a collaborative Space Act Agreement on December 17, 2024, expanding youth access to programs and opportunities with the Johnson Space Center’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) in Houston.
The agreement forges the first formal partnership between NASA OSTEM and Scouting America. It will leverage NASA’s educational outreach programs to enrich scout activities and experiences while providing the agency with new opportunities to engage youth around its mission, vision, and goals.
NASA Acting Associate Administrator Vanessa Wyche (left), at the time serving as director of Johnson Space Center, and Sam Houston Area Council of Scouting America Executive Officer Marvin Smith sign a Space Act Agreement on Dec. 17, 2024. NASA/James Blair “Our ability to explore the unknown and innovate for the benefit of all humanity depends on a highly skilled and competitive STEM workforce,” said NASA Acting Associate Administrator Vanessa Wyche. “Together with SHAC, we can inspire future generations of explorers, scientists, and engineers to help us take the next giant leap toward exciting discoveries.”
The agreement has already enabled NASA and SHAC to collaborate on a new space-focused summer experience at Camp Strake, the council’s premier camping facility in Southeast Texas. During the weeklong program, scouts will participate in hands-on STEM activities created in partnership with NASA, tour Johnson Space Center, attend robotics and space exploration workshops, and get an in-depth look at NASA’s current projects. SHAC serves approximately 25,000 youth in 16 counties in Southeast Texas.
Wyche and Johnson leadership presented Smith and members of local scout troops with an American flag that flew aboard NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission. NASA/James Blair “NASA and SHAC share common goals of growing youth interest in science, technology, engineering, and math careers, and providing access to programs and experiences that prepare them to enter the STEM workforce,” said Gamaliel Cherry, director of Johnson’s Office of STEM Engagement. “We are excited to connect more students to NASA’s mission, work, and people through this partnership.”
NASA OSTEM provides opportunities for the next generation of explorers to discover and hone the science, technology, engineering, and math skills needed for the agency’s bold exploration plans.
For the latest NASA STEM events, news, and activities for students at any grade level, visit:
https://stem.nasa.gov
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By Amazing Space
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