NASA’s new dark energy space telescope can also detect killer asteroids
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, designed to study dark energy, may also be used to detect potentially dangerous asteroids. Its wide-angle infrared camera allows it to scan large portions of the solar system for planetary defense.
Why it matters
Repurposing scientific instruments for planetary defense enhances Earth's safety while maximizing the utility of expensive space missions.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, set to launch at the end of August, is uniquely well-placed to help us spot any dangerous rocks heading our way.
At the end of August, NASA is set to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Its quest is to help us better understand how the universe works, from the glue-like dark matter that keeps galaxies together to the elusive dark energy that drives the expansion of the cosmos. But Roman could also serve another purpose: defending Earth from killer asteroids. In September, a multi-institutional team of planetary scientists and astronomers will outline how the space telescope is uniquely placed to scan asteroids, and provide information about their trajectories, sizes and compositions.
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