NASA has begun installing the Roman Space Telescope‘s nervous system, which is critical for communication between the observatory and spacecraft. Consisting of 32,000 wires and 9,000 connectors, this system provides power and helps the central computer monitor the observatory’s function via an array of sensors.
The Roman Space Telescope’s nervous system weighs about 1,000 pounds and was built on an observatory mock-up structure before being transported to Goddard’s Space Environment Simulator. When Roman reaches space, the resulting vacuum and orbital temperatures can cause certain materials to release harmful vapors, which can then condense within electronics and create issues such as short circuits or deposits on sensitive optics. This brings the mission one step closer to untangling the mysteries of dark energy following its launch scheduled for May 2027.
- Feed a passion for science and technology – Kids can learn more about the challenges of space exploration with this LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover...
- Conduct a test flight – This advanced building kit for kids ages 10 and up includes a buildable toy version of NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter, which...
- AR brings the mission to life – The accompanying augmented reality app experience lets kids dive into the details of the rover and its mission
Just as the nervous system carries signals throughout the human body, Roman’s harness connects its components, providing both power and commands to each electronic box and instrument. Without a harness, there is no spacecraft,” said Deneen Ferro, the Roman harness project development lead at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
