Quality Assurance engineer Lucinda Taylor unreels a power cord across the cleanroom floor at Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt Md., April 21, 2025. This photo has been reviewed by export control and is approved for public release. NASA/Mike Guinto
The Roman Space Telescope's Spacecraft Bus and Integrated Payload Assembly is crane lifted inside the cleanroom at Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt Md., June 12, 2025. This photo has been approved for public release. NASA/Mike Guinto
Roman Space Telescope team members inspect the primary mirror in the dark using flashlights and UV lights to help them see any contamination, inside the cleanroom at Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt Md., July 2, 2025. The green glow of the room is due to a long exposure time, the green comes from a light on the left wall which indicates optimal airflow through the room. This photo has been approved for public release. NASA/Mike Guinto
A technician inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida installs a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names as part of a commemorative plaque on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Friday, July 17, 2026. The names, submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions, will travel with the Roman observatory to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out. Roman is named after Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Technicians wear Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suits as they prepare to perform propellant loading operations inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Friday, July 24, 2026. With fuel tanks capable of carrying about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine – a monopropellant not requiring a second chemical to combust – 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
During a key integration milestone for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, technicians and engineers from the agency's Jet Propulsion Lab in Southern California gather inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, following the closeout of the observatory’s Coronagraph Instrument test connector panel. Roman carries one science instrument called the Wide Field Instrument, and one technology demonstration called the Roman Coronagraph Instrument. The coronagraph is a system of masks, prisms, detectors, and even self-flexing mirrors built to block out the glare from distant stars and directly image the planets in orbit around them. The Roman Coronagraph will be the first active coronagraph to fly in space, meaning it contains components that actively respond to variables that would usually cause starlight to scatter, making it harder to see nearby planets.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
A technician inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida installs a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names as part of a commemorative plaque on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Friday, July 17, 2026. The names, submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions, will travel with the Roman observatory to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out. Roman is named after Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
Technicians inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center complete installation of a commemorative plaque on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, as photographed on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. In addition to honoring the legacy of Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program, the plaque features a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions. The Roman observatory will travel to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out, to complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy and settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.
Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suits hang on a rack the Multi Operations Support Building on Thursday, July 23, 2026, before technicians began operations to load propellant into NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Once suited up technicians fueled Roman inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine. 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Technicians inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida install a commemorative plaque on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Monday, July 27, 2026. In addition to honoring the legacy of Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program, the plaque features a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions. The Roman observatory will travel to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out, to complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy and settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.
From left, technicians Jacob Stahl and Ryan Renehan don Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suits as they prepare to perform propellant loading operations inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Thursday, July 23, 2026. With fuel tanks capable of carrying about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine – 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Ryan Renehan, technician, wears a Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suit as he prepares to perform propellant loading operations inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Thursday, July 23, 2026. With fuel tanks capable of carrying about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine – a monopropellant not requiring a second chemical to combust – 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
A technician inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida installs a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names as part of a commemorative plaque on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Friday, July 17, 2026. The names, submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions, will travel with the Roman observatory to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out. Roman is named after Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida prepare the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope for encapsulation within its payload fairing on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 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.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
Inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Harry Willems, a mechanical technician from the agency’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, installs a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names as part of a commemorative plaque on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Friday, July 17, 2026. The names, submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions, will travel with the Roman observatory to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out. Roman is named after Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program.
Members of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope propellant, safety, and quality assurance team pose for a photo on Monday July 20, 2026, inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, prior to technicians loading propellant into the observatory. With fuel tanks capable of carrying about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine – a monopropellant not requiring a second chemical to combust – 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
Technicians inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida install a commemorative plaque on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Monday, July 27, 2026. In addition to honoring the legacy of Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program, the plaque features a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions. The Roman observatory will travel to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out, to complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy and settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.
Technicians monitor propellant loading from a control room in the Multi Operations Support Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Friday, July 24, 2026. With fuel tanks capable of carrying about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine – a monopropellant not requiring a second chemical to combust – 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Technicians wear Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suits as they prepare to perform propellant loading operations inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Friday, July 24, 2026. With fuel tanks capable of carrying about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine – a monopropellant not requiring a second chemical to combust – 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Technicians inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center complete installation of a commemorative plaque on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, as photographed on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. In addition to honoring the legacy of Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program, the plaque features a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions. The Roman observatory will travel to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out, to complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy and settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
A technician inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida installs a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names as part of a commemorative plaque on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Friday, July 17, 2026. The names, submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions, will travel with the Roman observatory to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out. Roman is named after Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suits hang on a rack the Multi Operations Support Building on Thursday, July 23, 2026, before technicians began operations to load propellant into NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Once suited up technicians fueled Roman inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine. 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
A technician inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida installs a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names as part of a commemorative plaque on the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Friday, July 17, 2026. The names, submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions, will travel with the Roman observatory to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out. Roman is named after Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Billy Keim, a senior integration technician for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope wears a Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suit as he prepares to perform propellant loading operations inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Friday, July 24, 2026. With fuel tanks capable of carrying about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine – a monopropellant not requiring a second chemical to combust – 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Technicians monitor propellant loading from a control room in the Multi Operations Support Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida Friday, July 24, 2026. With fuel tanks capable of carrying about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine – a monopropellant not requiring a second chemical to combust – 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Technicians don Self-Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suits as they prepare to perform propellant loading operations inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Thursday, July 23, 2026. With fuel tanks capable of carrying about 290 gallons (roughly 1,100 liters) of hydrazine, 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
In this long exposure image, members of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope process the observatory on Thursday, July 16, 2026, inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. 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. Liftoff atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from NASA Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is photographed after encapsulation 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.
Technicians inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center complete installation of a commemorative plaque on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, as photographed on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. In addition to honoring the legacy of Dr. Nancy Grace Roman, NASA’s first chief astronomer and one of the architects of the agency’s modern science program, the plaque features a memory card containing a total of 1,350,144 names submitted by people from across the globe, including astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II and Artemis III missions. The Roman observatory will travel to the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2, or L2, about one million miles from Earth, where the Sun’s and Earth’s gravity balance out, to complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy and settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.
Technicians and engineers inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clean and inspect the Solar Array Sun Shield (SASS) on the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The SASS is made up of six solar array panels, with the two center panels fixed while the four outer ones are deployed once in orbit. The Roman team will orient the SASS toward the Sun to provide power to the entire observatory and shade the telescope and instruments beneath. NASA designed this flagship mission to help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Teams continue launch preparations on the SpaceX Falcon Heavy that will launch NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, inside the SpaceX hangar at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. The rocket has 27 Merlin engines on its first stage and can generate more than five million pounds of thrust at liftoff. NASA and SpaceX are targeting launch no earlier than 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman participates in a postlaunch news conference for the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. 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 of Roman atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Jackie Townsend, Roman telescope project manager, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, participates in a postlaunch news conference for the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. 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 of Roman atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in its payload fairing, travels from the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility to the SpaceX hangar at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, ahead of mating to a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Roman’s science instruments are designed to help researchers understand dark energy, the mysterious force accelerating the universe’s expansion. The observatory also will map how galaxies form, cluster, and evolve by tracing the influence of dark matter. Liftoff from NASA Kennedy is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
From left, George Alderman, NASA Deputy Press Secretary, and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman participate in a postlaunch news conference for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. 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 of Roman atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Julie McEnery, Roman telescope senior project scientist, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, participates in a postlaunch news conference for the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. 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 of Roman atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Teams continue launch preparations on the SpaceX Falcon Heavy that will launch NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, inside the SpaceX hangar at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. The rocket has 27 Merlin engines on its first stage and can generate more than five million pounds of thrust at liftoff. NASA and SpaceX are targeting launch no earlier than 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
Teams continue launch preparations on the SpaceX Falcon Heavy that will launch NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, inside the SpaceX hangar at Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. The rocket has 27 Merlin engines on its first stage and can generate more than five million pounds of thrust at liftoff. NASA and SpaceX are targeting launch no earlier than 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
From left, George Alderman, NASA Deputy Press Secretary; NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman; Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington; Jackie Townsend, Roman telescope project manager, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; Julie McEnery, Roman telescope senior project scientist, NASA Goddard; and Denton Gibson, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services Program, Kennedy Space Center in Florida, participate in a postlaunch news conference for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. 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 of Roman atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA Deputy Press Secretary George Alderman participates in a postlaunch news conference for the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. 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 of Roman atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington, participates in a postlaunch news conference for the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. 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 of Roman atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 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.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope rises to space atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. The milestone begins the observatory’s journey to explore the large‑scale structure of the universe. 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 occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket’s fairing, stands vertical on the pad at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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 NASA Kennedy is targeted for 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
Denton Gibson, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services Program, Kennedy Space Center in Florida, participates in a postlaunch news conference for the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. 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 of Roman atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in its payload fairing, travels from the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility to the SpaceX hangar at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, ahead of mating to a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Roman’s science instruments are designed to help researchers understand dark energy, the mysterious force accelerating the universe’s expansion. The observatory also will map how galaxies form, cluster, and evolve by tracing the influence of dark matter. Liftoff from NASA Kennedy is targeted no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.
From left, George Alderman, NASA Deputy Press Secretary; NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman; Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington; Jackie Townsend, Roman telescope project manager, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland; and Julie McEnery, Roman telescope senior project scientist, NASA Goddard participate in a postlaunch news conference for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026. 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 of Roman atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket occurred at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 30, from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A.
Lee Armus, Roman Science Support Center lead, Caltech/IPAC, participates in a science briefing for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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.
Shawn Domagal-Goldman, director, Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters in Washington, participates in a science briefing for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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.
Lee Armus, Roman Science Support Center lead, Caltech/IPAC, participates in a science briefing for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope inside the NASA News Center’s John Holliman Auditorium at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. 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.