# Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

> planned NASA infrared space observatory

**Wikidata**: [Q7998593](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7998593)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Grace_Roman_Space_Telescope)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope

## Summary
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a planned NASA infrared space observatory designed to conduct wide-area surveys of the sky to study dark energy, exoplanets, and galaxy evolution. Named after NASA's first Chief of Astronomy, Nancy Grace Roman, it is scheduled to launch no earlier than May 2027 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The mission will operate from a halo orbit around the L2 Earth-Sun Lagrange point, succeeding the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes with advanced infrared imaging capabilities.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: No earlier than May 2027 (launch vehicle: SpaceX Falcon Heavy).
- **Named After**: Nancy Grace Roman, NASA's first Chief of Astronomy and a key figure in the development of the Hubble Space Telescope.
- **Operator**: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- **Primary Mirror Diameter**: 2.36 meters (infrared-optimized).
- **Mass**: 4,166 kg (gross weight), including 2,191 kg payload.
- **Orbit**: Halo orbit around the L2 Earth-Sun Lagrange point.
- **Mission Objectives**: Study dark energy, exoplanet demographics, and galaxy evolution through high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy.
- **Power Source**: Photovoltaic system with 2,500 watts of power.

## FAQs
### Q: When will the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launch?
A: The telescope is scheduled to launch no earlier than May 2027 from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.

### Q: Why is the telescope named after Nancy Grace Roman?
A: It honors Nancy Grace Roman (1925–2018), a pioneering astrophysicist who played a pivotal role in developing the Hubble Space Telescope and advocating for space-based astronomy.

### Q: What makes this telescope unique compared to Hubble or James Webb?
A: Unlike Hubble (visible/ultraviolet) and Webb (infrared), Roman will specialize in wide-field infrared surveys, capturing large swaths of the sky to map dark energy and track exoplanets via gravitational microlensing.

## Why It Matters
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will revolutionize astrophysics by generating unprecedented datasets to address fundamental cosmic mysteries. As the first space telescope designed for wide-field infrared surveys, it will map the distribution of dark energy—a force driving the universe's accelerated expansion—across 2,000 square degrees of sky. Its advanced coronagraph will directly image exoplanets, while its microlensing capabilities will detect small, distant worlds beyond the reach of current telescopes. By complementing the Hubble and Webb observatories, Roman will bridge critical gaps in understanding galaxy formation and the universe's large-scale structure, driving breakthroughs in cosmology and exoplanet science for decades.

## Notable For
- **Wide-Field Infrared Surveys**: Captures 100 times more area than Hubble in a single exposure, enabling statistical studies of dark energy and galaxy evolution.
- **Exoplanet Detection**: Uses gravitational microlensing to identify small, cold exoplanets in the outer reaches of star systems.
- **Coronagraph Technology**: Employs advanced starlight-blocking instruments to directly image exoplanets near bright host stars.
- **NASA Collaboration**: Developed by Goddard Space Flight Center with partnerships from Jet Propulsion Laboratory and industry contractors.
- **Legacy of Inclusivity**: Honors Nancy Roman, a trailblazer for women in STEM, symbolizing NASA's commitment to recognizing underrepresented pioneers in astronomy.

## Body
### Mission Overview
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (NGRST), formerly the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), is a NASA flagship mission tasked with exploring dark energy, exoplanets, and cosmic structure. Formally named in 2020, it is managed by Goddard Space Flight Center with contributions from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and international partners.

### Spacecraft Design
- **Optics**: 2.36-meter primary mirror (donated by the National Reconnaissance Office) with infrared-optimized detectors.
- **Instruments**: Wide Field Instrument (WFI) for imaging and spectroscopy, and a coronagraph for exoplanet direct imaging.
- **Power**: 2,500-watt photovoltaic system powering a 4,166 kg spacecraft (2,191 kg payload mass).

### Launch and Operations
- **Launch Vehicle**: SpaceX Falcon Heavy, selected in 2021 for its heavy-lift capability.
- **Launch Site**: Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.
- **Mission Duration**: Minimum 5-year primary mission at L2, with potential extensions.

### Scientific Objectives
1. **Dark Energy**: Map cosmic expansion history through high-precision galaxy and supernova surveys.
2. **Exoplanets**: Detect thousands of exoplanets via microlensing and characterize their atmospheres.
3. **Galaxy Evolution**: Observe over 2 billion galaxies to study star formation and black hole growth across cosmic time.

### Legacy
The Roman Space Telescope continues NASA's tradition of space-based astronomy, building on the legacy of Hubble and Webb. Its datasets will be publicly archived at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC), enabling global scientific collaboration. By addressing key questions in cosmology and exoplanetary science, Roman will shape the next generation of astronomical research, ensuring U.S. leadership in space exploration.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.wiareport.com/2020/06/nasa-names-its-new-space-telescope-after-nancy-grace-roman/)
2. [2020](https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-telescope-named-for-mother-of-hubble-nancy-grace-roman)
3. [Source](https://roman.gsfc.nasa.gov/partners.html)
4. [Source](https://roman.ipac.caltech.edu/docs/WFIRST-AFTA_SDT_Report_150310_Final.pdf)
5. [Source](https://spacenews.com/nasa-selects-falcon-heavy-to-launch-roman-space-telescope/)
6. [Source](https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/r/rst)
7. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2023/high-gain-antenna-for-nasas-roman-mission-clears-environmental-tests)
8. [NASA's Roman Telescope: How James Webb's successor will map universe with colossal amounts of data | Euronews](https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/03/19/nasas-roman-telescope-how-james-webbs-successor-will-map-universe-with-colossal-amounts-of)
9. [Source](https://wfirst.ipac.caltech.edu/sims/Param_db.html)