NASA's new space telescope will tackle some of the universe’s biggest mysteries
NASA is preparing to launch the Nancy Grace Roman space telescope in late August to survey the cosmos and investigate fundamental mysteries of the universe. The mission is notable for being ahead of schedule and under budget, utilizing technology derived from a former spy satellite.
Why it matters
This telescope will provide a significantly wider field of view than previous observatories, potentially accelerating astronomical discoveries by orders of magnitude.
NASA is about to launch a space observatory that could help settle some of the biggest mysteries in modern astronomy. The Nancy Grace Roman space telescope will study how the universe began, what it is made of and how it has evolved over time.
The observatory is named after Nasa’s first chief of astronomy and its first female executive. Nancy Grace Roman , who died in 2018 aged 93, made important contributions to our understanding of stars and played a crucial role in shaping Nasa’s space-based astronomy programme.
The telescope is undergoing final preparations ahead of a launch set to take place from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center in late August . It is eight months ahead of its original schedule, and under budget – a rare feat for a NASA flagship mission.
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