Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope: Launch Preparations | NASA Kennedy
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NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is photographed during the encapsulation process inside its payload fairing in the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, ahead of mating to a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Encapsulation shields the spacecraft during rollout, ascent, and the early phases of flight. Roman will investigate dark energy and dark matter, conduct a statistical census of planetary systems, and enable a broad range of additional astrophysics research. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy is targeted for no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.

Roman’s primary mission is to settle essential questions about dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics by conducting wide-field surveys that explore the universe’s structure, evolution, and composition.

The Roman telescope and the discoveries it will support:
https://lnkd.in/g-w5Mrcs
https://lnkd.in/e6seCzSp

Roman’s namesake—Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer—made it her personal mission to make cosmic vistas readily accessible to all by paving the way for telescopes based in space.

“The mission will acquire enormous quantities of astronomical imagery that will permit scientists to make groundbreaking discoveries for decades to come, honoring Dr. Roman’s legacy in promoting scientific tools for the broader community,” said Jackie Townsend, Roman’s deputy project manager at NASA Goddard. “I like to think Dr. Roman would be extremely proud of her namesake telescope and thrilled to see what mysteries it will uncover in the coming years.”

Dr. Nancy Grace Roman:
https://lnkd.in/gUKim3jU

Download the free Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope poster here:
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Smaller image for web view PNG (3.75 MB)
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Image Credit: NASA/Sydney Rohde (Rocz)
Image Date: Aug. 24, 2026
NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
American Astronomical Society (AAS)

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