This month, we are celebrating the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a flagship mission to explore the universe’s greatest mysteries. Designed to investigate dark energy, dark matter, and planets beyond our solar system, Roman will survey the cosmos at a scale never before achieved. With its powerful infrared imaging capabilities and expansive field of view, the space telescope will provide scientists with unprecedented data to help answer some of astronomy’s biggest questions.
Infineon HiRel is proud to support missions like Roman with radiation hardened components engineered for reliable operation in space. Our radiation hardened portfolio has traveled billions of miles from Earth on the twin Voyager space probes, orbited the Sun on the James Webb Space Telescope, and ventured to the far side of the Moon on Artemis II. We are honored to continue our space heritage aboard the Roman mission.
Honoring Dr. Nancy Grace Roman
Roman is named after Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and advocate for space-based observatories. She is often referred to as the “mother” of Hubble for helping establish the foundation for the Hubble Space Telescope.
Since its launch in 1990, Hubble has become one of the most productive scientific instruments ever built, transforming our understanding of the cosmos through decades of groundbreaking discoveries. It is continuously capturing images and data of galaxies, nebulae, and exoplanets in a low Earth orbit.
As evident with her work on Hubble, Nancy Grace Roman played a critical role in advancing NASA’s space science programs: her contributions transformed modern astronomy and paved the way for future missions, earning her mission namesake.
Nancy Grace Roman visits James Webb Space Telescope and the Hubble Project Team (2017). Credit: NASA/GSFC/Bill Hybyk
Mission breakdown
The Roman space telescope will orbit the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L2), 1 million miles away from Earth, the same orbit as NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, launched in 2021. This stable gravitational location provides an ideal environment for deep space observations.
An illustration (not to scale) of orbit at L2. Credit: NASA/STScl/CSA
The mission’s primary instrument is the Wide Field Instrument, a 300-megapixel near-infrared camera capable of capturing images with Hubble-level resolution across an area up to 100 times larger in a single observation. Roman also carries a Coronagraph Instrument that will demonstrate advanced techniques for directly imaging planets orbiting distant stars.
Technicians and engineers use a crane to lift Roman to a specialized work stand. Credit: NASA/Sydney Rohde (Rocz)
Together, these instruments will enable astronomers to map billions of galaxies, study the evolution of cosmic structures, investigate the nature of dark energy, and discover new exoplanets. One of Roman’s primary scientific goals is to help researchers better understand the unexplained expansion of the universe by capturing a vast and sharp survey of the cosmos.
Engineering reliability for deep space
Operating a spacecraft millions of miles from Earth presents significant challenges. Spacecraft electronics must endure radiation exposure, extreme temperatures, and years of continuous operation without the possibility of repair.
Infineon HiRel develops radiation hardened power components designed for the reliability required by space applications. Our technologies help support mission-critical systems where long-term performance and durability are essential.
A stylized still frame from an animation of Roman Space Telescope spacecraft. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
For decades, Infineon HiRel’s technologies have supported space programs ranging from Earth-orbiting satellites to deep-space missions. As Roman begins its mission to reveal new insights into our universe, we are proud to contribute to a legacy of exploration driven by discovery, innovation, and reliability.
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