NASA's Roman Space Telescope has taken its first test image using its main camera, according to efe.com. The observatory is currently traveling toward its destination about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, efe.com reports.
The main camera was switched on during the spacecraft's journey, according to Infobae. The test image marks an early milestone for the mission's imaging hardware while the telescope is still in transit.
Separately, NASA has said the telescope's useful life could more than double, extending to as many as 22 years, according to Yahoo. The agency estimates the observatory has enough fuel for twelve additional years beyond what was originally expected, Microsiervos reports. Xataka describes the mission as a telescope that will travel even farther than the James Webb Space Telescope, and notes the unexpected gain in operational lifespan.
The Roman telescope is named after Nancy Grace Roman, a NASA figure whose name appears in coverage of the observatory's main camera activation. The reports do not specify a date for the test image or further technical details about the camera's performance.
What to watch next: whether NASA releases additional images or mission updates as the telescope continues toward its final position.