After the successful launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JSWT), NASA is not taking any breaks. NASA is nowhere near stopping, instead of that this space research organization has announced to development of a new large space telescope.
In the 241st AAS Meeting, NASA shared James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) new findings and updates. This meeting was held at Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA from 8, January to 12, January 2023. NASA’s research team shared Webb’s findings and results in the meeting.
NASA announced to start of developing a new next-generation space telescope in the 241st meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) held from 8, January to 12, January 2023. NASA’s research team briefed Webb’s findings in the meeting.
NASA has yet discovered about 13 planets in other solar systems since 2020. Even if we say that these planets are habitable we are not confident that some of those are likely habitable. That’s the reason why scientists are now counting on Habitable World Observatory.
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope!
The “Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope” aim is to determine vital questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. The short name of “Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope” is “Roman Space Telescope”. This infrared telescope is formerly known as the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST). This next-generation space observatory is still developing and hopefully will be launched by May 2027.
NASA seems to be following Astro2020’s recommendation. NASA started the GOMAP ( Great Observatory Technology Maturation Program ) last year. This was a program that will focus on what are “New Great Observatories”. At the 241st meeting of the AAS (American Astronomical Society), NASA’s research team announced that they will develop an infrared space telescope which will be called a Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).
Features of Roman Telescope!
This impressive piece of hardware will be equipped with a 2.4-meter mirror and a 300-megapixel camera offering an image capture area 100 times larger than Hubble Telescope can produce with an identical resolution. Comparing the design of the new Roman Space Telescope with the old design, we will a lot of changes. The WFIRST design which was studied in 2011-2012, features 1.3 m (4.3 ft.)
It is made similar to the James Webb space telescope. The current design is to create a super stable telescope that will sit out at the L2 Earth-Sun LaGrange point. This is the same sun-blocking position that James Webb uses. It will also use a James Webb-style segmented mirror. Moreover, a coronagraph is also present there to block a star’s bright cores.
Before this design, current ground-based and space base telescopes were limited to detecting young exoplanets (self-luminous). This was million times lighter than their host star and located >0.3 arc seconds away. The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be capable of detecting planetary companions 10 million times fainter than their host star and located >0.3 arc seconds away.
Thoughts of the Astrophysics Division Director on the Roman Space Telescope!
The Astrophysics Division Director in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC named Dr. Mark Clampin has said that there is more to this mission than just a single new telescope. He shared his views:
“Even though you may at first blush look at it and say,’ Well, this is an exoplanet mission,’ it is not; it is an observatory,”
Moreover, he said:
“People are watching how we do on Roman as an example of whether we can do a good job in the future,” Furthermore he stated. “The Roman science is important and it’s also important that we demonstrate that we can stay on track on this telescope as we put it together. That would be my highest priority.”
