SpaceX rocket taxi returns after Roman Telescope launch | Space photo of the day for Sept. 8, 2026
The Roman Space Telescope launched beyond Earth on Aug. 30. And one of the most amazing parts of the liftoff was the Falcon Heavy rocket's boosters returning back to our planet, safe and sound.
On August 30, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope embarked on its journey aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Following its mission completion, the rocket's boosters executed a flawless landing back on Earth, as captured by Space.com's Chelsea Gohd. This observatory, NASA's next great telescope, aims to transform our understanding of the cosmos.
Equipped with a coronagraph to directly image exoplanets and a Wide-Field Instrument boasting a vast field of view, it plans to collaborate with prestigious telescopes like Hubble and Webb. To reach space, similar to other telescopes, it relied on SpaceX's Falcon Heavy - a 230-foot-tall rocket capable of lifting 141,000 pounds to low Earth orbit.
Remarkably, Falcon Heavy's two boosters are reusable, safely touching down upright on Earth after a successful space mission. Witnessing this landings, Gohd was captivated, noting the precision with which the booster returned to Earth. As the onlookers marveled at this spectacle, one observer likened the booster's landing to a taxi returning to its station.
The Roman Space Telescope's boosters landed at Landing Zones 2 and 40, with one making its maiden voyage while the other had completed three missions. The first images from this groundbreaking telescope are anticipated to be released next year, promising a new era in our exploration of the universe.
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