Post by @AkaSci@fosstodon.org

AkaSci 🛰️

@AkaSci@fosstodon.org 10 hr. ago

Successful launch of the NASA Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
🚀 🔭 👍
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wq3VHsL_bE

Note that it will take a few weeks to reach the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point, 1.5 million km away.
8/n

View

5 Replies

6 Boosts

AkaSci 🛰️

@AkaSci@fosstodon.org 9 hr. ago

The NASA Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is communicating with DSN Canberra, over S-band at low data rate. (shown as RST on the DSN website).

https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/dsn-now/dsn.html
9/n

Deep Space Network Now

The real time status of communications with our deep space explorers

AkaSci 🛰️

@AkaSci@fosstodon.org 9 hr. ago

Here is the planned trajectory of the Roman Space Telescope (RST) over the next 7 months, as RST travels to the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point 1.5 million km away and enters a 6-month Halo orbit around L2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Grace_Roman_Space_Telescope
10/n

Still from animation of Roman Space Telescope trajectory and orbit
Frame rotating with Earth
With annotations by me — Still from animation of Roman Space Telescope trajectory and orbit Frame rotating with Earth With annotations by me

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

NASA infrared space observatory

AkaSci 🛰️

@AkaSci@fosstodon.org 8 hr. ago

The NASA Roman Space Telescope (RST) will join other space telescopes in halo orbits around the Sun-Earth L2 Lagrange point, 1.5 million km away.

At the Sun-Earth Lagrange points, an object can orbit around the Sun at the same period as Earth, as the centrifugal force balances out the gravitational forces of the Sun and Earth.

This enables space telescopes to stay on the same side of Earth and stay pointed at celestial objects for extended periods of time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagrange_point#L2_point
11/n

Lagrange point

one of five positions in an orbital configuration of two large bodies where a small object can maintain a stable relative position

AkaSci 🛰️

@AkaSci@fosstodon.org 7 hr. ago

Some fascinating images of the various parts and subsystems of the instruments aboard the NASA Roman Space Telescope.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasaroman/page4
12/n

1. Roman Coronagraph Instrument Optical Bench Instruments
Photo credit: Chris Gunn/ NASA JPL

2. Roman Coronagraph Instrument Optical Bench Instruments
Photo credit: Chris Gunn/ NASA JPL

3. Roman Coronagraph Instrument Optical Bench Instruments
Photo credit: Chris Gunn/ NASA JPL

4. Roman Coronagraph Instrument Optical Bench Instruments
Photo credit: Chris Gunn/ NASA JPL

5. Roman Element Assembly Wheel
A close-up photo of part of the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope’s element assembly wheel. The photo is taken close enough that we only see a small segment, like a slice of a pie. The instrument is round and silver, with criss-crossing silver bars. In the center of the larger circle, a slightly darker silver is bolted on, with silvery stripes running in different directions. Around this middle circle, black circles with bluish reflective lenses in their centers run around the outer edge of the instrument. A person in a clean room suit with a hood and gloves is taking a mirror selfie. A black camera obscures most of their face. Photo Credit: Ball Aerospace

6. Roman Focal Plane System
A close-up photo of an iridescent purplish-blue array of squares attached to a chunky, rectangular piece of gold and silver metal hardware, hanging from the ceiling of a large room with blue and white walls. The structure is about the size of a small microwave, and the array of detectors is arranged in slightly curved rows. Credits: NASA/Chris Gunn — 1. Roman Coronagraph Instrument Optical Bench Instruments Photo credit: Chris Gunn/ NASA JPL 2. Roman Coronagraph Instrument Optical Bench Instruments Photo credit: Chris Gunn/ NASA JPL 3. Roman Coronagraph Instrument Optical Bench Instruments Photo credit: Chris Gunn/ NASA JPL 4. Roman Coronagraph Instrument Optical Bench Instruments Photo credit: Chris Gunn/ NASA JPL 5. Roman Element Assembly Wheel A close-up photo of part of the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope’s element assembly wheel. The photo is taken close enough that we only see a small segment, like a slice of a pie. The instrument is round and silver, with criss-crossing silver bars. In the center of the larger circle, a slightly darker silver is bolted on, with silvery stripes running in different directions. Around this middle circle, black circles with bluish reflective lenses in their centers run around the outer edge of the instrument. A person in a clean room suit with a hood and gloves is taking a mirror selfie. A black camera obscures most of their face. Photo Credit: Ball Aerospace 6. Roman Focal Plane System A close-up photo of an iridescent purplish-blue array of squares attached to a chunky, rectangular piece of gold and silver metal hardware, hanging from the ceiling of a large room with blue and white walls. The structure is about the size of a small microwave, and the array of detectors is arranged in slightly curved rows. Credits: NASA/Chris Gunn

Flickr

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Explore NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s 391 photos on Flickr!

~3 more replies

AkaSci 🛰️

@AkaSci@fosstodon.org 7 hr. ago

Nancy Grace Roman (May 16, 1925 – December 25, 2018) - American astronomer, first female executive at NASA, one of the “visionary founders of the US civilian space program”, aka as the “Mother of Hubble”, active public speaker and educator, and an advocate for women in the sciences.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Grace_Roman
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hubble_esa/44477663304/
13/n

Pic of Nancy Roman — The mother of Hubble

Nancy Roman, talented astronomer, driven spokesperson and lifelong champion for women in science, is often called “the mother of the Hubble Space Telescope” . In 1961, Nancy became the first Chief of Astronomy in the Office of Space Science at NASA, where her work with scientists, engineers and financial supporters led to the successful launches of many orbiting observatories, including the utterly impressive NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

Credit: NASA, ESA — Pic of Nancy Roman — The mother of Hubble Nancy Roman, talented astronomer, driven spokesperson and lifelong champion for women in science, is often called “the mother of the Hubble Space Telescope” . In 1961, Nancy became the first Chief of Astronomy in the Office of Space Science at NASA, where her work with scientists, engineers and financial supporters led to the successful launches of many orbiting observatories, including the utterly impressive NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: NASA, ESA

Flickr

Hubblecast 113: Nancy Roman — The mother of Hubble

Nancy Roman, talented astronomer, driven spokesperson and lifelong champion for women in science, is often called “the mother of the Hubble Space Telescope” . In 1961, Nancy became the first Chief of Astronomy in the Office of Space Science at NASA, where her work with scientists, engineers and financial supporters led to the successful launches of many orbiting observatories, including the utterly impressive NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. More information: spacetelescope.org/videos/hubblecast113a/ Credit: NASA, ESA

Nancy Grace Roman

American astronomer and principal in the Hubble Space Telescope project (1925-2018)