NASA says a near-perfect rocket burn could more than double the operating lifetime of its Roman Space Telescope, from 10 to at least 22 years
NASA says the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's first mid-course correction burn was so fuel-efficient that the mission could now run for at least 22 years, more than double its original 10-year design life, per NASA and Space.com.
NASA reports that the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's first mid-course correction burn, executed August 31, 2026, was completed with more than 99% accuracy and used less than 10% of its budgeted fuel: about 18 kilograms versus a budgeted 200 kilograms. Combined with extra propellant left over because the spacecraft launched lighter than its budgeted maximum weight, NASA now projects Roman has fuel for at least 22 years of potential science operations, more than double the original 10-year design lifetime (a 5-year primary mission plus a 5-year extension). A second, smaller course-correction burn and orbital insertion at the L2 point are planned for later this month. Sources: NASA (science.nasa.gov) and Space.com.