The new Nancy Grace telescope will reveal the deepest, most hidden secrets of the Universe

    The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope begins a mission designed to map the cosmos, investigate dark energy and dark matter, and expand the catalog of exoplanets.

    View of Roman after separating from the spacecraft's upper stage, beginning its solo journey toward orbit. Credit: NASA.
    View of Roman after separating from the spacecraft's upper stage, beginning its solo journey toward orbit. Credit: NASA.

    On August 30, 2026, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket launched from Complex 39A, beginning its mission to survey vast areas of the universe in infrared light.

    After leaving Earth, at the time of writing, it is heading toward the second Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system, known as L2. Located approximately 1.5 million kilometers away, this point allows the telescope to maintain a stable position while also providing an unobstructed view.

    Like Hubble, Roman has a primary mirror measuring 2.4 meters in diameter; the difference is that it offers a much wider perspective. Its design combines high resolution with the ability to cover an area 100 times larger in each exposure.

    That difference will make it possible to study cosmic phenomena on a much larger scale than previous observatories. Instead of examining small regions, Roman will be able to capture detailed images of vast areas and connect millions of objects within a single image.

    The primary mission is expected to last five years, although it could be extended for another five. During that time, the telescope will tackle fundamental questions about cosmic expansion, the formation of structures and the diversity of planetary systems in the Milky Way.

    Two instruments to explore the cosmos

    Roman's main instrument is the Wide Field Instrument, a 300-megapixel infrared camera that, by detecting wavelengths invisible to the human eye, will be able to partially see through interstellar dust and capture light that has traveled for billions of years.

    Nancy Grace Roman was NASA's first chief astronomer. She is known as the "mother of the Hubble Space Telescope." Credit: NASA.
    Nancy Grace Roman was NASA's first chief astronomer. She is known as the "mother of the Hubble Space Telescope." Credit: NASA.

    This instrument will measure light from about one billion galaxies over the course of the mission, allowing scientists to compare their distances, shapes and distribution to reconstruct how large-scale structures evolved over time.

    A second tool, the Coronagraph Instrument, will block the intense glare of nearby stars to reveal much fainter objects. It will capture high-contrast images and spectroscopy of exoplanets, along with observations of disks where new planets are forming.

    It will also be able to distinguish planets nearly a billion times fainter than their host stars. Its results will help refine technologies needed for future observatories designed to characterize Earth-like worlds.

    The invisible pieces

    One of the greatest mysteries Roman will investigate is dark energy, the name given to the phenomenon associated with the accelerating expansion of the universe. Although its nature remains unknown, Roman's extensive observations could provide clues to the answer.

    By measuring enormous populations of galaxies and mapping their distribution, scientists will have several ways to study that acceleration. Combining independent methods will help reduce uncertainties and determine whether current cosmological models accurately describe the expansion of the Universe.

    SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, carrying NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, during its launch on Sunday, August 30. Credit: NASA.
    SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, carrying NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, during its launch on Sunday, August 30. Credit: NASA.

    Roman will also examine dark matter, which does not emit light but reveals its presence through gravity. The way galaxies and galaxy clusters have grouped together over billions of years could provide clues about the properties of these "invisible" particles.

    If they were heavy and slow-moving, structures would have appeared relatively early; if they were light and fast-moving, clustering would have taken longer. Roman's deep observations will make it possible to compare both scenarios and narrow down possible explanations for this invisible component of the Universe.

    A planetary census and a historic legacy

    Roman will also conduct a census of planetary systems using gravitational microlensing:

    This phenomenon occurs when the gravity of an object in the foreground bends and temporarily magnifies the light of a distant star, making planets visible that would otherwise remain hidden.

    NASA expects this survey of the inner regions of the Milky Way to discover more than 1,000 exoplanets, including worlds with a wide range of masses and orbits. This will help scientists estimate which types of planets are common and how other planetary systems are organized.

    Combined with the coronagraph, Roman will be able to uncover populations that are difficult to observe while simultaneously testing techniques for directly studying certain nearby planets, building a technological bridge toward the future search for habitable worlds.

    And in case you were wondering, the telescope's name honors Nancy Grace Roman, NASA's first chief astronomer and the agency's first female executive. Her advocacy for space-based astronomy was instrumental in making the Space Telescope possible, earning her the nickname "the mother of Hubble."