NASA's Roman Space Telescope Equipped with 45-Mile Long "Nervous System" for Exploration
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, designed to investigate dark energy and exoplanets, is one step closer to its launch in May 2027 as the spacecraft's electrical harness is being integrated and tested. The harness, weighing around 1,000 pounds and consisting of approximately 32,000 wires and 900 connectors, connects the observatory's components, provides power, and enables communication between different parts of the telescope. The harness was built on a mock-up structure and underwent a "bakeout" process to prepare it for space conditions. Engineers will now weave the harness through the flight structure as the final assembly stages continue.