Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched on a Falcon Heavy from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center on the morning of 30 August 2026. It was sent towards the Sun-Earth L2 point, where the James Webb Space Telescope also sits.
What happened
All times local
- Watch this moment · 34:40
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Watch this moment · 41:30
Liftoff
Falcon Heavy lifted off from Launch Complex 39A. The center core was expendable, as the video explains.
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Watch this moment · 49:15
Side booster landings
Both side boosters returned to land. Landings at Landing Zone 2 and Landing Zone 40 were confirmed.
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Watch this moment · 50:15
Nominal orbit
The second stage's first burn ended in a nominal orbit insertion.
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Watch this moment · 1:05:30
Trajectory to L2
A second burn of about two minutes sent Roman towards the Sun-Earth L2 point.
- Watch this moment · 1:13:15
Key facts
| Vehicle | Falcon Heavy |
|---|---|
| Mission name | Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope |
| Launch site | Kennedy Space Center LC-39A |
| Crew size | 0 |
| Outcome | In progress |
Videos about this mission
The videos, in date order
Drag, zoom or press play to watch them on this page.
August – October 2026
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Roman Space Telescope: Hubble-Sized Mirror, 200 Times the View
Everyday Astronaut -
Roman Space Telescope Prelaunch Briefing: Falcon Heavy, Weather
NASA -
Roman Space Telescope Science Briefing Ahead of Launch
NASA -
Falcon Heavy Launches the Roman Space Telescope Toward L2
Everyday Astronaut -
Roman Space Telescope Launches on Falcon Heavy: NASA Briefing
NASA -
Roman Space Telescope Launch on Falcon Heavy From Pad 39A
NASA -
Roman Space Telescope: Falcon Heavy Launch and Path to L2
NASASpaceflight
Drag to explore dates · Select a video to preview.
Dates are when each video was first published on YouTube.
What Roman is for
Video 264 compares Roman with Hubble and Webb. Its single image is about 300 megapixels, and it is expected to return far more data per day than Hubble. Its primary mission is planned for five years. A coronagraph on board is a technology demonstration that suppresses the light from bright stars, aiming at planets about a billion times dimmer than their stars.
The spacecraft has a grappling fixture and a refuelling port, so a future robotic servicer could extend its life. Video 263 notes that no such vehicle exists yet.
The launch
The rocket used a mixed set of boosters, one on its third flight, as the video describes. The weather was 70 percent go. After the first burn the second stage made a nominal orbit insertion, and a later burn sent Roman on its way to L2. The trip takes about 30 days, followed by commissioning before science begins.
Questions and answers
When did Roman launch?
On 30 August 2026, on a Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center.
Where is it going?
To the Sun-Earth L2 point, like the James Webb Space Telescope.
How is it different from Hubble?
Same size of mirror, but a much wider view, about 200 times as much sky in an image.
Who was it named for?
Nancy Grace Roman, NASA's first chief of astronomy.
Sources: The facts and written text on this page come from the 7 videos on this page, by Everyday Astronaut, NASA, NASASpaceflight.
