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NASA to launch Roman Space Telescope on SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center Aug 30

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NASA to launch Roman Space Telescope on SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center Aug 30

NASA will launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on August 30 at 7:26 a.m. EDT. The telescope will observe a field of view at least 100 times wider than Hubble and survey billions of galaxies. A backup launch window is set for August 31 if weather delays the mission.

Key Facts

  • The Roman Space Telescope will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center on August 30 at 7:26 a.m. EDT.
  • The telescope's field of view is at least 100 times wider than Hubble's, with a survey speed up to 1,000 times faster.
  • Roman will operate from the Sun-Earth L2 point, approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, for at least five years.
  • First scientific images are expected in early 2027.

Launch Details

The Roman Space Telescope will lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Liftoff is scheduled for 7:26 a.m. EDT (14:26 Turkey time) on August 30. A backup launch window is available on August 31 if weather conditions cause a delay.

Telescope Capabilities

Roman will image a sky area at least 100 times larger than Hubble in a single exposure, with comparable sensitivity. Its survey speed may be up to 1,000 times faster than Hubble. The telescope will study billions of galaxies, map the Milky Way's stars, and investigate exoplanets. A coronagraph instrument will block starlight to directly image some exoplanets.

Mission Orbit and Timeline

After launch, Roman will travel to the Sun-Earth L2 point, about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. The L2 region, also home to the James Webb Space Telescope, offers uninterrupted observation conditions. The mission is planned to last at least five years, with first scientific images expected in early 2027.

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NASA to launch Roman Space Telescope on SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center Aug 30