Roman Space Telescope Propulsion Milestones

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.