{"id":143564,"date":"2020-09-03T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-03T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-463872"},"modified":"2023-12-15T10:27:37","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T15:27:37","slug":"primary-mirror-for-nasas-roman-space-telescope-completed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/roman-space-telescope\/primary-mirror-for-nasas-roman-space-telescope-completed\/","title":{"rendered":"Primary Mirror for NASA\u2019s Roman Space Telescope Completed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope\u2019s primary mirror, which will collect and focus light from cosmic objects near and far, has been completed. Using this mirror, Roman will capture stunning space vistas with a field of view 100 times greater than Hubble images.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAchieving this milestone is very exciting,\u201d said Scott Smith, Roman telescope manager at NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. \u201cSuccess relies on a team with each person doing their part, and it\u2019s especially true in our current challenging environment. Everyone plays a role in collecting that first image and answering inspiring questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Roman will peer through dust and across vast stretches of space and time to study the universe using infrared light, which human eyes can\u2019t see. The amount of detail these observations will reveal is directly related to the size of the telescope\u2019s mirror, since a larger surface gathers more light and measures finer features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Roman\u2019s primary mirror is 7.9 feet (2.4 meters) across. While it\u2019s the same size as the Hubble Space Telescope\u2019s main mirror, it is less than one-fourth the weight. Roman\u2019s mirror weighs only 410 pounds (186 kilograms) thanks to major improvements in technology.<\/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-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1261\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"American Flag Reflected in Roman's Primary Mirror\" 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\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg 5184w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?resize=300,185 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?resize=768,473 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?resize=1024,631 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?resize=1536,946 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?resize=2048,1261 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?resize=400,246 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?resize=600,370 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?resize=900,554 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?resize=1200,739 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?resize=2000,1232 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Roman Space Telescope\u2019s primary mirror reflects an American flag. Its surface is figured to a level hundreds of times finer than a typical household mirror. <\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: L3Harris Technologies<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>The primary mirror, in concert with other optics, will send light to Roman\u2019s two science instruments \u2013 the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/goddard\/2019\/main-instrument-for-nasa-s-wfirst-mission-completes-milestone-review\" rel=\"noopener\">Wide Field Instrument <\/a>and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/goddard\/2019\/wfirst-space-telescope-fitted-for-starglasses\" rel=\"noopener\">Coronagraph Instrument<\/a>. The first is essentially a giant 300-megapixel camera that provides the same sharp resolution as Hubble across nearly 100 times the field of view. Using this instrument, scientists will be able to map the structure and distribution of invisible dark matter, study planetary systems around other stars, and explore how the universe evolved to its present state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The coronagraph demonstrates technology that blocks out the glare of stars and allows astronomers to directly image planets in orbit around them. If the coronagraph technology performs as anticipated, it will see planets that are almost a billion times fainter than their host star and enable detailed studies of giant planets around other suns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Roman will observe from a vantage point about 930,000 miles (1.5 million km) away from Earth in the direction opposite the Sun. Roman\u2019s barrel-like shape will help block out unwanted light from the Sun, Earth, and Moon, and the spacecraft\u2019s distant location will help keep the instruments cool, ensuring that it will be able to detect faint infrared signals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because it will experience a range of temperatures between manufacture and testing on Earth and operations in space, the primary mirror is made of a specialty ultralow-expansion glass. Most materials expand and contract when temperatures change, but if the primary mirror changed shape it would distort the images from the telescope. Roman\u2019s mirror and its support structure are designed to reduce flexing, which will preserve the quality of its observations.<\/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-fit \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1557\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Roman's Primary Mirror\" 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\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg 4547w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?resize=300,228 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?resize=768,584 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?resize=1024,778 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?resize=1536,1167 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?resize=2048,1557 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?resize=400,304 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?resize=600,456 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?resize=900,684 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?resize=1200,912 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm3.jpg?resize=2000,1520 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Crane operators lower the support equipment to move the Roman Space Telescope\u2019s primary mirror. Using this mirror, Roman will provide a new view into the universe, helping scientists solve cosmic mysteries related to dark matter, dark energy, and planets around other stars. <\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">Credit: L3Harris Technologies<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Development of the mirror is much further along than it would typically be at this stage since the mission leverages a mirror that was transferred to NASA from the National Reconnaissance Office. The team modified the mirror\u2019s shape and surface to meet Roman\u2019s science objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The newly resurfaced mirror sports a layer of silver less than 400 nanometers thick \u2013 about 200 times thinner than a human hair. The silver coating was specifically chosen for Roman because of how well it reflects near-infrared light. By contrast, Hubble\u2019s mirror is coated with layers of aluminum and magnesium fluoride to optimize visible and ultraviolet light reflectivity. Likewise, the James Webb Space Telescope\u2019s mirrors have a gold coating to suit its longer wavelength infrared observations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Roman\u2019s mirror is so finely polished that the average bump on its surface is only 1.2 nanometers tall \u2013 more than twice as smooth as the mission requires. If the mirror were scaled to be Earth\u2019s size, these bumps would be just a quarter of an inch high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe mirror was precisely finished to the Roman Space Telescope\u2019s optical prescription,\u201d said Bonnie Patterson, program manager at L3Harris Technologies in Rochester, New York. \u201cSince it\u2019s so much smoother than required, it will provide even greater scientific benefit than originally planned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, the mirror will be mounted for additional testing at L3Harris. It has already been extensively tested at both cold and ambient temperatures. The new tests will be done with the mirror attached to its support structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cRoman\u2019s primary mirror is complete, yet our work isn\u2019t over,\u201d said Smith. \u201cWe\u2019re excited to see this mission through to launch and beyond, and eager to witness the wonders it will reveal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is managed at Goddard, with participation by NASA\u2019s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Caltech\/IPAC in Pasadena, California, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, and a science team comprising scientists from research institutions across the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>By <a href=\"mailto:ashley.m.balzer@nasa.gov\">Ashley Balzer<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\">NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a>, Greenbelt, Md.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Media contact:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"mailto:claire.andreoli@nasa.gov\">Claire Andreoli<\/a><br>NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.<br>301-286-1940<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope\u2019s primary mirror, which will collect and focus light from cosmic objects near and far, has been completed. Using this mirror, Roman will capture stunning space vistas with a field of view 100 times greater than Hubble images. \u201cAchieving this milestone is very exciting,\u201d said Scott Smith, Roman telescope manager [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":285,"featured_media":151968,"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":[10729,13071,13070,2813,2816,2857,2815,2661,2659],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[4215,4217,3913,10626,10596,4212],"coauthors":[10923],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Primary Mirror for NASA\u2019s Roman Space Telescope Completed","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/roman-space-telescope\/primary-mirror-for-nasas-roman-space-telescope-completed\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/roman-space-telescope\/primary-mirror-for-nasas-roman-space-telescope-completed\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.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","Dark Energy","Dark Matter","Exoplanets","Galaxies","Goddard Space Flight Center","Stars","Technology"],"dateCreated":"2020-09-03T18:00:00Z","datePublished":"2020-09-03T18:00:00Z","dateModified":"2023-12-15T15:27:37Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Primary Mirror for NASA\u2019s Roman Space Telescope Completed\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/roman-space-telescope\/primary-mirror-for-nasas-roman-space-telescope-completed\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2020-09-03T18:00:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"Missions\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"The Universe,Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope,Dark Energy,Dark Matter,Exoplanets,Galaxies,Goddard Space Flight Center,Stars,Technology\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Ashley Balzer\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"time_ago":"4 years","featured_image":{"id":151968,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/pm10.jpg","title":"pm10","alt":"American Flag Reflected in Roman's Primary Mirror","caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143564"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/285"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143564"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":580915,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143564\/revisions\/580915"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143564"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=143564"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=143564"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=143564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}