How NASA's new space telescope could help solve mysteries of dark energy and dark matter
NASA launched its newest space telescope, undertaking its biggest mission yet to study the universe on a much larger scale. A roughly $4 billion project, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will allow scientists to get panoramic views of space and better understand the nature of powerful forces known as dark energy and dark matter. Miles O'Brien joined Amna Nawaz to discuss more.
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope successfully detached from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket following its launch on August 30, 2026. (Image credit: NASA) The stunning photograph was taken just 31 minutes after the Roman telescope embarked on its journey atop the Falcon Heavy from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This image marks the Roman Space Telescope's inaugural solo journey in space, separating from the upper stage of the Falcon Heavy rocket.
In the foreground of the image, the telescope's payload adapter is clearly visible, while the observatory itself stretches out into the vast expanse of space, its solar arrays still folded for launch. A striking feature in the background is the back of the telescope, where its High Gain Antenna (HGA) radiofrequency dish is clearly discernible.
This dish will play a crucial role in the telescope's communication with ground stations and transmission of its scientific findings back to Earth. Now fully operational, the Roman Space Telescope is on the path to its destination, the sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 (L2), a gravitationally stable point in space between our planet and its star.
This 90-day commissioning period will see the telescope travel to L2, where it will commence its mission to unravel the enigmas of dark matter and dark energy, as well as hunt for exoplanets orbiting distant stars.
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