NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope was designed with enough fuel for about 10 years of work. After its first course correction, the mission team says it may have enough for at least 22 years of science operations.
The spacecraft’s August 31 maneuver was completed with more than 99 percent accuracy. It used about 40 pounds of fuel, far less than the 441 pounds that had been budgeted for that burn.
Roman also launched lighter than the maximum weight used in planning, which left room to load extra fuel. The team expects its next maneuver and arrival at its observing position to save more.
A longer mission would give the telescope many more years to study distant galaxies, stars, and planets. NASA still has to complete the upcoming steps before the final lifetime is known.
