The Broomfield arm of BAE Systems is overseeing final tests of the main scientific tool on NASA’s upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The Wide Field Instrument (WFI) is being developed to detect distant infrared light across the universe and deliver high-resolution imagery spanning broad sections of the sky. Its goal is to allow scientists to locate and research exoplanets, improve understanding of dark energy and dark matter, and answer a variety of other astronomical queries.
Compared to the Hubble Space Telescope, the WFI’s predecessor, this instrument will deliver a 100-times larger field of view, significantly enhancing our ability to scan the cosmos. The WFI finished integration and began environmental testing with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in September 2023. Vibration and acoustic tests that mimic launch situations, as well as an initial baseline thermal vacuum test to simulate space conditions, including on-orbit temperature, have already been successfully completed by the WFI.
Recently, the WFI underwent a second thermal vacuum chamber test which served to verify its performance post dynamic environments testing. It will now tackle the final stage of environmental testing focused on electromagnetic interference and compatibility to ensure its resistance to electrical disruptions. Delivery of the WFI to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is anticipated to occur later this summer.
“The WFI is an incredibly sensitive instrument, and these tests are vital to ensure its performance and safeguard the success of this groundbreaking mission,” said Dr. Alberto Conti, vice president and general manager of Civil Space for BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems. In addition to conducting integration and environmental tests, BAE Systems designed and built the opto-mechanical assembly, which includes the optical bench, element wheel, thermal control system, and alignment compensation mechanism.
Meanwhile, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center developed the focal plane system, relative calibration system, diffractive elements for the element wheel, and the instrument command and data handling electronics. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is slated for launch by May 2027.
Source: Press Release