NASA is about to launch a space telescope that could change how we see the universe

Nancy Grace Roman, the first chief of astronomy at NASA, passed away in December 2018 at the age of 93. However, her life and contributions to astronomy continue to inspire. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1925, Roman was captivated by the night sky from a young age. Encouraged by her mother, she developed a passion for astronomy and organized an astronomy club in high school. Despite facing sexism in academia, she pursued her dreams, earning a PhD in astronomy from the University of Chicago in 1949.

Roman's groundbreaking research on stellar dynamics and the correlation between a star's motion and its chemical composition earned her recognition. Faced with limited opportunities in academia, she joined the Naval Research Laboratory in 1955, where she made a name for herself as an effective administrator and communicator of science. In 1959, NASA recruited her to help build its space science program, making her the agency's first chief of astronomy.

Roman's most enduring legacy is her role in conceiving, justifying, and organizing the Hubble Space Telescope, which was launched in 1990. Known as the "Mother of Hubble," her vision helped revolutionize our view of the universe. Beyond Hubble, she helped establish other NASA astronomy missions, including the Orbiting Solar Observatory series and the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory.

For her contributions, Roman received numerous honors, including election to the National Women’s Hall of Fame and an asteroid named in her honor, 2516 Roman.