Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Mission: Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Astrophysics · Sun-Earth L2

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a NASA infrared space telescope with a 2.4 m (7.9 ft) wide field of view primary mirror and two scientific instruments. The Wide-Field Instrument (WFI) is a 300.8-megapixel multi-band visible and near-infrared camera, providing a sharpness of images comparable to that achieved by the Hubble Space Telescope over a 0.28 square degree field of view, 100 times larger than imaging cameras on the Hubble. The Coronagraphic Instrument (CGI) is a high-contrast, small field of view camera and spectrometer covering visible and near-infrared wavelengths using novel starlight-suppression technology. Roman objectives include a search for extra-solar planets using gravitational microlensing, and probing the expansion history of the Universe and the growth of cosmic structure, with the goal of measuring the effects of dark energy, the consistency of general relativity, and the curvature of spacetime.

What it put in orbit

COSPAR ID 2026-199. Orbits from the CelesTrak satellite catalogue (perigee × apogee, inclination).

Where to watch

Timeline

1. T−00:53:00 GO for Prop Load
2. T−00:50:00 Stage 1 Propellant Load
3. T−00:45:00 Stage 1 LOX Load
4. T−00:35:00 Stage 2 Propellant Load
5. T−00:18:30 Stage 2 LOX Load
6. T−00:07:00 Engine Chill
7. T−00:00:59 Startup
8. T−00:00:45 GO for Launch
9. T−00:00:20 Tank Press
10. T−00:00:06 Ignition
11. T+00:00:00 Liftoff
12. T+00:01:08 Max-Q
13. T+00:02:24 SBECO
14. T+00:02:27 Boosters Separation
15. T+00:02:32 Boosters Flip
16. T+00:02:43 Boosters Boostback Burn Startup
17. T+00:03:48 Boosters Boostback Burn Shutdown
18. T+00:03:51 MECO
19. T+00:03:54 Stage 2 Separation
20. T+00:04:00 SES-1
21. T+00:04:15 Fairing Separation
22. T+00:06:19 Boosters Entry Burn Startup
23. T+00:06:29 Boosters Entry Burn Shutdown
24. T+00:07:23 Boosters Landing Burn
25. T+00:07:40 Boosters Landing
26. T+00:08:28 SECO-1
27. T+00:24:33 SES-2
28. T+00:26:32 SECO-2
29. T+00:31:31 Payload Separation

In the news

• What’s Happening in Space Policy August 30-September 5, 2026 SpacePolicyOnline.com, 30 Aug 2026
• Why it matters that President Trump just dialed into a NASA news conference Arstechnica, 30 Aug 2026
• NASA to Host Media Briefing on Roman Telescope, Launching Next Month NASA, 21 Jul 2026

Headlines via the Spaceflight News API.

Updates

• Launch success with telescope solar panels/sunshade deployed. source
• Payload deployed. source
• Liftoff! source
• Updated launch weather, 70% GO. source
• Official Webcast by NASA has started source
• Now targeting Aug 30 at 11:26 UTC source
• Updated launch weather, 50% GO (launch window per https://x.com/spaceflightnow/status/2093717878302216462). source
• Now targeting Aug 30 at 11:25 UTC source
• Updated launch weather, 60% GO. source
• GO for launch. source
• Tweaked T-0. source
• Setting GO. source
• Added tentative launch time. source
• NET August 30. source
• NET late August. source
• May move up to NET early September. source
• NET September 28. source
• NET September. source
• Adding launch NET October 2026 source