{"id":7017,"date":"2024-04-18T19:59:15","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T11:59:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/l3harris-engineers-complete-the-alignment-of-10-mirrors-on-nasas-roman-space-telescope\/"},"modified":"2024-04-18T19:59:15","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T11:59:15","slug":"l3harris-engineers-complete-the-alignment-of-10-mirrors-on-nasas-roman-space-telescope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/l3harris-engineers-complete-the-alignment-of-10-mirrors-on-nasas-roman-space-telescope\/","title":{"rendered":"L3Harris Engineers Complete the Alignment of 10 Mirrors on NASA’s Roman Space Telescope"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"L3Harris<\/p>\n

When it launches by 2027, the <\/strong>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)<\/strong> Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope<\/strong> will serve as a powerful eye on deep space, capturing images of billions of distant galaxies and exploring the mysteries of dark matter, supernovae, and other cosmic phenomena. <\/strong>L3Harris<\/strong> is responsible for some of the most important tasks in creating Roman\u2019s telescope, including refiguring the primary mirror. And it just passed its first eye exam with flying colors.<\/p>\n

L3Harris engineers in Rochester, New York, recently combined the telescope\u2019s 10 mirrors \u2013 collectively known as the Imaging Optics Assembly (IOA) \u2013 to assess their ability to direct light into Roman\u2019s science instruments with extreme precision. Tests showed that light moves as expected through the optical system in a precisely controlled way, enabling the telescope to capture razor-sharp and detailed images from its position 1 million miles away from Earth.<\/p>\n

The project\u2019s success is the result of a thorough, month-long alignment process that involved multiple iterations to bring test images into sharper focus. The mirrors had been tested individually but never together. Roman\u2019s mirrors must be aligned to within the width of a human hair to ensure the telescope will work as intended when it begins its observations. This is no small feat given that the mirrors range in size from the 2.4-meter (8 feet) diameter primary mirror down to the smallest mirror coming in at three inches.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur L3Harris team in Rochester demonstrated exceptional expertise in ensuring successful tests of Roman\u2019s optics,\u201d said Joe Westbay<\/strong>, Vice President and General Manager, Imaging Systems, L3Harris.<\/strong> \u201cIt underscores our continued dedication to helping NASA advance its mission to unlock the secrets of the cosmos.\u201d<\/p>\n

The IOA test is the latest milestone in our longstanding partnership with NASA. For more than 60 years, L3Harris has provided cutting-edge imaging systems and other solutions that advance universe exploration. From the Hubble and James Webb telescopes to the International Space Station and Mars Rover, our technologies have been with NASA every step of the way in pushing the boundaries of human discovery.<\/p>\n

In the coming months, it will undergo vibration and acoustic tests that assess how well the optics handle strong shaking and sound waves during launch. Later, a final optics test will test the IOA\u2019s performance at its cold operational temperature and in extremely low pressure. The entire Optical Telescope Assembly, of which the IOA is a core component, is expected to be complete later this year.<\/p>\n

Click here to learn more about NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope.<\/strong><\/p>\n