Trump tried to scrap NASA's Roman Space Telescope last year. Now it's ready to launch

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch on August 30, 2026, following nearly two decades of development. The mission faced significant political uncertainty last year when a leaked budget proposal suggested the project might be scrapped.
Why it matters
The telescope represents a major advancement in space exploration, offering a field of view 50 times wider than the James Webb Space Telescope to study dark matter and exoplanets.
Launches & Spacecraft Trump tried to scrap NASA's Roman Space Telescope last year. Now it's ready to launch News By Josh Dinner Published 27 August 2026 "People were giving up their weekends, and at the same time, there was this compartmentalized knowledge that it could all get cut."
The article reports on a factual event and historical political context without taking a partisan stance on the budget proposal.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in