NASA launches powerful Roman Space Telescope, a spy satellite turned to the stars
The telescope, which will park itself in orbit beyond the moon, is designed to investigate cosmic enigmas such as dark energy and dark matter.
NASA launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Sunday from Cape Canaveral, Florida, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The $4 billion observatory, originally designed as a spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, will study cosmic mysteries like dark energy and dark matter, search for exoplanets, and create a 3D map of the universe.
The telescope will orbit beyond the moon, with mission scientists planning to spend 90 days commissioning the telescope and preparing for its science operations. Roman is expected to capture panoramic views of the cosmos and survey our entire Milky Way galaxy in just a month, while Hubble would need a century. The telescope's launch came nine months ahead of schedule, with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman expressing confidence in its success.
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