{"id":320257,"date":"2023-04-18T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?post_type=migration&p=320257"},"modified":"2023-12-15T10:32:42","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T15:32:42","slug":"goddard-team-builds-tests-calibrator-for-nasas-roman-in-record-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/roman-space-telescope\/goddard-team-builds-tests-calibrator-for-nasas-roman-in-record-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Goddard Team Builds, Tests Calibrator for NASA\u2019s Roman in Record Time"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"985\" height=\"657\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg?w=985\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"A large metal structure with a thick, silver metal frame stands upright and is open, revealing an interior full of twisted bundles of wires and other metal components. Near the center, a space is open like a smile and a red circle glows from inside it.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg 985w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg?resize=900,600 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 985px) 100vw, 985px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This photo shows the Roman Space Telescope’s Cold Sensing Module, which contains the Simplified Relative Calibration System (sRCS).<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: Ball Aerospace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>A vital subsystem for NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/roman.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope<\/a> was recently delivered to Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado, and installed in the spacecraft\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/7h4_7tduA3c\" rel=\"noopener\">Wide Field Instrument<\/a> (WFI). Called the Simplified Relative Calibration System (sRCS), this component will allow astronomers to measure the total light output of cosmic objects like galaxies and supernovae with extreme accuracy. When Roman launches by May 2027, scientists will use this data to unravel the secrets of dark energy and dark matter, discover exoplanets, and explore many topics in infrared astrophysics.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/srcs-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"320\" height=\"479\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/srcs-1.jpg?w=320\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/srcs-1.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/srcs-1.jpg?resize=200,300 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/srcs-1.jpg?resize=267,400 267w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">This photo shows the engineering test unit of Roman’s Simplified Relative Calibration System\u2019s light source \u201csphere.\u201d Light exits the sRCS through the gold cylinder on top. It can be seen as the red glow in the first image on this page. This subsystem will enable astronomers to measure the brightness of stars, galaxies, supernovae, and more with extreme accuracy.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: Hawaii Aerospace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cWithout this calibration tool, we wouldn\u2019t be able to gather accurate enough measurements to achieve the next-level science Roman is designed to do,\u201d said Joshua Schlieder, a research astrophysicist at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Roman team originally planned to use a different version of the sRCS. But to ensure the sRCS would be ready on time and of the caliber needed for the mission, a team of engineers at Goddard jumped in with a new approach. Using some components from the original version, the team redesigned, built, and tested the sRCS \u2013 a process that usually takes several years \u2013 in about a year and a half, while ensuring it will meet all of the mission\u2019s requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis incredible feat was only made possible by pulling in extraordinary engineers and scientists from various disciplines who exemplify the teamwork and dedication that NASA prides itself in,\u201d said Hali Flores, the sRCS product development lead at Goddard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The subsystem was delivered to Ball Aerospace where it was integrated into the WFI\u2019s Cold Sensing Module, pictured above. The gold and silver component at the center of the photo near the bottom is the electronics box that controls the sRCS, and we can see its output light as a red glow near the center of the image. The heart of the system is a softball-sized hollow sphere built by Hawaii Aerospace Corporation in Honolulu. Its interior is made of a diffusely reflective material called Spectralon that interacts with light from 24 light-emitting diodes (LEDs), in six different wavelength bands corresponding to the visible and infrared filters of the WFI. It will illuminate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/goddard\/2021\/nasa-s-roman-space-telescope-selects-24-flight-quality-heat-vision-eyes\">the detector array<\/a> (which will fit in the smile-shaped hole in front of the red light like a puzzle piece) with precisely controlled light at different intensities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientists will periodically compare how the detectors respond to that light with their response to light from cosmic objects, which will reduce uncertainty in Roman\u2019s measurements. The sRCS is designed to enable the detectors to measure the relative brightness of celestial objects to roughly 0.1 percent accuracy even when the objects differ in brightness by a factor of 100,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe sRCS helps scientists understand exactly how our detectors respond to the light from the objects we observe \u2013 particularly how that response varies with the color or brightness of the light,\u201d said Jackie Townsend, Roman\u2019s deputy project manager at Goddard. \u201cThe ability to do this on-orbit with this accuracy is unique to Roman, and is core to achieving our science objectives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, additional components will be integrated into the WFI, including the detectors in May. Then, the sRCS and detectors will be tested together. As part of a thermal test this fall, the sRCS will perform its first calibration sequence on the detectors that will fly aboard the spacecraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about the Roman Space Telescope, visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/roman.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">roman.gsfc.nasa.gov<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/roman\">www.nasa.gov\/roman<\/a>. To virtually tour an interactive version of the telescope, visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/roman.gsfc.nasa.gov\/interactive\/\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/roman.gsfc.nasa.gov\/interactive\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>By Ashley Balzer<\/em><\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\"><strong><em>NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>, Greenbelt, Md.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>\u200b\u200bMedia Contact:<\/em><\/strong><br><a href=\"mailto:claire.andreoli@nasa.gov\"><strong><em>Claire Andreoli<\/em><\/strong><\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\"><strong><em>NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center<\/em><\/strong><\/a><br><strong><em>301-286-1940<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A vital subsystem for NASA\u2019s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope was recently delivered to Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado, and installed in the spacecraft\u2019s Wide Field Instrument (WFI). Called the Simplified Relative Calibration System (sRCS), this component will allow astronomers to measure the total light output of cosmic objects like galaxies and supernovae with extreme […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":285,"featured_media":321403,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[10729,2836,13071,13070,2816,3273,2857,2662,2831,2815,11336,2659],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[4215,3913,10626,10596,4212],"coauthors":[10923],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Goddard Team Builds, Tests Calibrator for NASA\u2019s Roman in Record Time","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/roman-space-telescope\/goddard-team-builds-tests-calibrator-for-nasas-roman-in-record-time\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/roman-space-telescope\/goddard-team-builds-tests-calibrator-for-nasas-roman-in-record-time\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg"},"articleSection":"Missions","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Ashley Balzer"}],"creator":["Ashley Balzer"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["The Universe","Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope","Astrophysics","Dark Energy","Dark Matter","Galaxies","Galaxies, Stars, & Black Holes Research","Goddard Space Flight Center","Science & Research","Science Instruments","Stars","Supernovae"],"dateCreated":"2023-04-18T14:00:00Z","datePublished":"2023-04-18T14:00:00Z","dateModified":"2023-12-15T15:32:42Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Goddard Team Builds, Tests Calibrator for NASA\u2019s Roman in Record Time\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/roman-space-telescope\/goddard-team-builds-tests-calibrator-for-nasas-roman-in-record-time\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2023-04-18T14:00:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"The Universe,Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope,Astrophysics,Dark Energy,Dark Matter,Galaxies,Galaxies, Stars, & Black Holes Research,Goddard Space Flight Center,Science & Research,Science Instruments,Stars,Supernovae\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Ashley Balzer\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":4,"time_ago":"1 year","featured_image":{"id":321403,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres.jpg","title":"23-01884_roman_gsfc_srcs_installed_lowres","alt":"A large metal structure with a thick, silver metal frame stands upright and is open, revealing an interior full of twisted bundles of wires and other metal components. 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