NASA Roman Telescope Extends Mission to 22 Years After Using 40 Pounds of Fuel
Updated
Updated · Space.com · Sep 15
NASA Roman Telescope Extends Mission to 22 Years After Using 40 Pounds of Fuel
3 articles · Updated · Space.com · Sep 15
Summary
Roman now has enough propellant for at least 22 years of science operations through 2048, far beyond its planned five-year prime mission and hoped-for 10-year total.
Only 40 pounds of fuel were used in its first post-launch engine burn—less than 10% of the 441 pounds budgeted—putting the telescope on a 99%-accurate path toward the L2 point.
That gain built on an earlier fuel surplus: Roman launched at 17,760 pounds, well below the 21,605-pound design cap, letting NASA fill its tanks to capacity instead of just a 10-year requirement.
A second course-correction burn before Roman enters orbit at L2 in early December is also expected to use much less fuel, while later station-keeping burns every 28 days should consume little.