Solar panels for Roman Space Telescope complete testing

Solar panels for Roman Space Telescope complete testing

by Ashley Balzer for GSFC News

Greenbelt MD (SPX) Aug 27, 2024

The solar array sun shield for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has successfully passed a series of crucial tests, ensuring that the assembly remains on track for timely completion. These solar panels are essential for powering and shading the observatory, enabling mission-critical observations while maintaining optimal instrument temperatures.

The Roman team has developed two sets of panels: one designated for flight aboard the observatory and another for preliminary testing purposes.

At NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, engineers assessed the test version in a thermal vacuum chamber. This chamber mimics the extreme temperatures and low-pressure environment that the flight panels will encounter in space. Given that the panels will be stowed during launch, the team also rehearsed their deployment under space-like conditions.

Simultaneously, a vendor fitted the flight version with solar cells. Upon their arrival at Goddard, technicians tested the solar cells by exposing the panels to a bright light that simulates sunlight.

“We save a significant amount of time and money by using two versions of the panels, because we can do a lot of preliminary tests on a spare while moving further in the process with the flight version,” said Jack Marshall, the Solar Array Sun Shield lead at NASA Goddard. “It streamlines the process and also avoids risking damage to the panels that will go on the observatory, should testing reveal a flaw.”

Next spring, the flight version of the Solar Array Sun Shield will be installed on the Roman spacecraft. Following this, the entire spacecraft will undergo comprehensive testing to ensure its durability during launch and its expected performance in space.

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