The NASA-operated Roman Space Telescope is an observatory intended to address crucial inquiries related to dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics. With a primary mirror measuring 2.4 meters in diameter (7.9 feet), the telescope's mirror is the same size as the primary mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope. The Roman Space Telescope boasts two instruments: the Wide Field Instrument and the Coronagraph Instrument technology demonstration.

The ICESat (Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite) mission is the flagship project of the Earth Observing System designed to measure ice sheet mass balance, cloud and aerosol altitudes, as well as land topography and vegetation features. Between 2003 and 2009, the ICESat mission gathered multi-year elevation data required to assess ice sheet mass balance, and to obtain information on cloud properties, specifically regarding stratospheric clouds frequently found in polar regions. In addition to its polar-specific coverage of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, ICESat also provided topography and vegetation data worldwide.

The International Space Station (ISS) is a low Earth orbit modular space station that holds the distinction of being the largest of its kind. The project is a collaborative effort of five space agencies: NASA from the United States, Roscosmos from Russia, JAXA from Japan, ESA from Europe, and CSA from Canada. Ownership and usage of the space station are governed by intergovernmental treaties and agreements. The station serves as a research laboratory for microgravity and space environment studies, facilitating scientific research in various fields such as astrobiology, astronomy, meteorology, physics, and more. Furthermore, the ISS is well-suited for testing spacecraft systems and equipment necessary for potential long-term missions to the Moon and Mars.

Originally scheduled for 2020, the launch of OSAM-1 is now expected no earlier than 2025. The primary goal of this mission is to conduct a complex refueling operation on Landsat 7, a satellite that was launched back in 1999. This ambitious task involves using a mechanical arm to grasp the satellite, cutting through insulation and wires to gain access to the fuel tank, and attaching a hose to pump in hydrazine fuel. This pioneering feat would mark the first-ever satellite refueling mission and would demonstrate the potential to repair and prolong the operational lifespan of the thousands of orbiting satellites. However, the challenging nature of servicing these satellites, which were not originally designed for maintenance, poses significant obstacles to achieving this objective. In addition to refueling Landsat 7, the OSAM-1 mission's secondary goal is to deploy a separate robot named SPIDER (Space Infrastructure Dexterous Robot) to build a new structure in space. This marks a significant milestone towards a form of space-based construction that has thus far been unattainable, as robots will assemble and construct new structural components from scratch.

The Cryogenic, High-Accuracy Refraction Measuring System (CHARMS) is capable of accurately measuring the index of refraction of typical Infrared (IR) materials with a precision of (+ or -) 5 x 10sup -3. Preprint Document