NASA and SpaceX are preparing to launch NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a next-generation observatory designed to investigate some of the universe’s biggest mysteries, including dark energy and dark matter.
The Roman Space Telescope is scheduled to launch no earlier than 7:26 a.m. ET on Sunday, August 30, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Live launch coverage begins at 6:20 a.m. ET.
NASA will stream the Roman Space Telescope launch, pre-launch briefings, press conferences, and other mission events online. Here is the complete schedule and information on how to watch.
Named after NASA’s first chief astronomer, Nancy Grace Roman, the space telescope combines sharp infrared vision with a field of view at least 100 times larger than that of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Its wide-ranging observations will help scientists study dark energy and dark matter, discover and characterize exoplanets, map billions of galaxies, investigate black holes, and explore objects throughout the solar system and the observable universe.
Following liftoff and separation from the Falcon Heavy rocket, the Roman Space Telescope will travel to the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point, or L2, approximately 1 million miles from Earth. The mission is designed to operate for at least five years, with a goal of extending operations to 10 years. After processing, Roman’s scientific data will be made publicly available.
NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launch schedule is listed below. All times are Eastern Time and may change based on weather, technical conditions, or real-time mission operations.
Saturday, August 29
9:00 a.m.: Roman Space Telescope mission science briefing — NASA will host a mission science briefing in the auditorium at the NASA Kennedy Press Site. Participants include:
- Sean Domagal-Goldman, Director, Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters
- Julie McEnery, Roman Space Telescope Senior Project Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- Vanessa Bailey, Coronagraph Instrument Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Kristen McQuinn, Director, Roman Science Operations Center, Space Telescope Science Institute
- Lee Armus, Roman Science Support Center Leader, Caltech/IPAC
Members of the media may submit questions in person or by phone. Because auditorium seating is limited, in-person attendance will not be available. Reporters seeking a dial-in number and passcode should contact the NASA Kennedy Newsroom at [email protected] at least one hour before the briefing.
10:30 a.m.: Roman Space Telescope pre-launch press conference — NASA will hold a pre-launch press conference at the NASA Kennedy Press Site. Participants include:
- Nikki Fox, Deputy Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
- Lucas Paganini, NASA Headquarters Roman Space Telescope Program Director
- Jackie Townsend, Roman Space Telescope Project Manager, NASA Goddard
- Denton Gibson, NASA Launch Services Program Launch Director, NASA Kennedy
- Julianna Shaiman, Director, NASA Science and Dragon Program, SpaceX
- Justin McReynolds, Weather Officer, 45th Weather Squadron, U.S. Space Force
Media may ask questions by phone. In-person attendance will not be available because of limited auditorium capacity. Reporters should contact the NASA Kennedy Newsroom at [email protected] at least one hour before the press conference to request the dial-in number and passcode.
11:45 a.m.: NASA Administrator flyby — NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is scheduled to fly a jet past the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and its Falcon Heavy launch vehicle. The flyby will be streamed on the same broadcast as the pre-launch press conference, with the launch pad shown during the transition. The event is subject to weather and operational conditions.
12:00 p.m.: Media interviews — In-person interviews will take place at the NASA Kennedy Press News Center with the following participants:
- Nikki Fox, Deputy Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
- Lucas Paganini, NASA Headquarters Roman Space Telescope Program Director
- Daria Kirschbaum, Acting Director, NASA Office of Science and Exploration, Goddard
- Josh Schrieder, Roman Space Telescope Project Scientist, NASA Goddard
- Jason Hylan, Roman Space Telescope Flight Division and Observatory Manager, NASA Goddard
- Bertrand Mennesson, Roman Coronagraph Instrument Project Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- Jeff Hanke, President, Space Systems, Space and Mission Systems, L3Harris Technologies
- Wendy Minotti, Space and Mission Systems Program Manager, Exquisite Imaging, L3Harris Technologies
- Bonnie Patterson, Vice President and General Manager, Civil Space, Space and Mission Systems, BAE Systems
- Sarah Lipscy, Director of Strategic Operations, Space and Mission Systems, BAE Systems
Previously credentialed media members interested in scheduling an interview should contact the NASA Kennedy Newsroom at [email protected].
Sunday, August 30
6:20 a.m.: Live launch coverage begins — NASA’s livestream will provide coverage of preparations and the countdown to liftoff.
7:26 a.m.: Roman Space Telescope launch — NASA and SpaceX are targeting liftoff of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center.
9:30 a.m.: Post-launch press conference — NASA will hold a post-launch news conference with the following participants:
- NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
- Nikki Fox, Deputy Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
- Jackie Townsend, Roman Space Telescope Project Manager, NASA Goddard
- Julie McEnery, Roman Space Telescope Senior Project Scientist, NASA Goddard
- Denton Gibson, NASA Launch Services Program Launch Director, NASA Kennedy
Media may submit questions by phone. Due to limited auditorium space, in-person attendance will not be available. Reporters should contact the NASA Kennedy Newsroom at [email protected] at least one hour before the press conference to request the dial-in number and passcode.
Audio-only Roman launch coverage
Audio-only coverage of the Roman Space Telescope launch will be available on NASA’s “V” line at 321-867-1220 or 321-867-1240. On launch day, NASA will also broadcast a non-narrated mission audio countdown at 321-867-7135.
Launch audio will also be available in FM mode through the Launch Information Service and Amateur Television System on the VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz. The KSC Amateur Radio Club will provide audio on the UHF frequency 444.925 MHz. These broadcasts can be heard throughout Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast.
Follow the Roman Space Telescope launch on NASA’s website
NASA’s website will provide launch-day coverage, including livestreams and blog updates as countdown milestones occur. On-demand video and launch photographs will be available shortly after liftoff. Follow the mission through NASA’s Roman launch blog.
Attend the Roman launch virtually
Members of the public can register to attend the Roman Space Telescope launch virtually. NASA’s Virtual Guest Program provides launch resources, notifications about schedule changes and related opportunities, and a post-launch stamp for participants’ NASA Virtual Guest Passports.
Watch and share the mission on social media
Share your Roman Space Telescope launch experience on X, Facebook, and Instagram by following and tagging NASA’s official mission and agency accounts.
NASA’s Roman Space Telescope mission is managed by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, with contributions from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, Caltech/IPAC in Pasadena, California, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, and scientists from research institutions around the world. Key industrial partners include BAE Systems Inc., L3Harris Technologies, and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging.
International contributions to the Roman mission include support from the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, France’s CNES, and Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Astronomy. NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center manages launch services for the Roman Space Telescope.
For more information about NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, visit:
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Allies Fisher
NASA Headquarters, Washington
202-385-1287
[email protected]
Lee Jay Lockhart
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-747-8310
[email protected]
Claire Andreoli
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
301-286-1940
[email protected]
Source: www.nasa.gov