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Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope test images
Boing Boing • • general
Key Points:
- NASA activated the 300-megapixel camera on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, with initial test images appearing out of focus as calibration and testing will take several months.
- Engineers tested key systems including the calibration system, element wheel for tuning light wavelengths, and the Wide Field Instrument's (WFI) focus mechanism in a zero-gravity environment for the first time.
- The WFI can capture a full moon-sized area with the sharpness of the Hubble Space Telescope, significantly expanding the scope of cosmic imaging compared to Hubble's smaller field of view.
- The telescope, having launched last month, is en route to the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 and will start its 5-year primary mission after arrival, with potential for extension based on fuel usage.
- The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's surveys aim to advance understanding of exoplanets, dark energy, and cosmic matter distribution, providing a valuable resource for diverse scientific research.
