NASA’s $4 Billion Roman Space Telescope Readying For Launch
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NASA’s next flagship observatory is expected to become one of the most powerful astronomical survey instruments ever built.
Often described as a successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, the Roman Space Telescope is about to leave NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and head to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for final launch preparations ahead of being blasted into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy in, possibly, September.
The journey marks the beginning of the final chapter before launch for a mission that could fundamentally change astronomers’ understanding of both the universe and the planets that populate our galaxy. Once in space, Roman is expected to become one of the most powerful astronomical survey instruments ever built.
Named after NASA’s first chief astronomer and the woman often called the “Mother of Hubble,” the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope combines a Hubble-sized 7.9 foot (2.4m) mirror with a field of view roughly 100 times larger than Hubble’s.
That unique combination will allow Roman to generate the first sweeping panoramic views of the universe, helping scientists investigate dark energy, study cosmic evolution and search for planets beyond our solar system. While Hubble has transformed astronomy with its deep, narrow observations of objects, Roman will be able to scan enormous regions of the sky, potentially revealing millions of previously unseen cosmic objects. A key goal for Roman will be to discover a new kind of exoplanet.
The new telescope could revolutionize the search for alien worlds by discovering around 100,000 exoplanets. It will look deep into unexplored parts of the Milky Way, helping scientists compare planetary systems across very different galactic environments, says Science Daily. The mission will also uncover rare Earth-sized planets, study thousands of exotic alien atmospheres, and provide a treasure trove of data that could reshape our understanding of how planets form.