From Jalopnik · Nicholas Werner · · 1m 20s
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Began Life As A Spy Satellite
A spy satellite built for military use became NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope after the NRO abandoned its program.
In brief
A spy satellite built for military use became NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope after the NRO abandoned its program. NASA repurposed a spy satellite mirror from a defunct NRO program to build the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will survey the sky 1,000 times faster than Hubble. Originally reported by…
Spy Satellite Program Abandoned
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope began life as a spy satellite for the NRO but never launched.
NRO's Future Imagery Architecture Program
The NRO developed a spy satellite program in the 1990s to monitor Earth but faced cost overruns with Boeing.
Two Satellites Stuck in Warehouse
Two spy satellites remained in Rochester, New York, after the NRO canceled the program due to Boeing's delays.
NASA Sees Opportunity
NASA's acting deputy director Michael Moore discovered the spy satellites and requested possession in 2011.
Mirror Repurposed for Science
NASA used a 7.9-foot mirror from the spy satellites to build a space telescope that surveys the sky 1,000 times faster than Hubble.
Mirror Modifications Required
NASA added a 400-nanometer silver coating to the mirror and redesigned the satellite for astronomy use.
Telescope Ahead of Schedule
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched ahead of schedule and has 22 years of science ahead due to its extended fuel lifespan.
In short
NASA repurposed a spy satellite mirror from a defunct NRO program to build the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which will survey the sky 1,000 times faster than Hubble.
