NASA’s New Roman Space Telescope

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launched on August 30, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, beginning a mission that could dramatically expand our understanding of the universe. Roman does not replace the Hubble or James Webb Space Telescopes. Instead, it complements them by giving astronomers something neither telescope was primarily designed to provide: A huge panoramic view of the universe with Hubble-like image quality.

Hubble — Detailed photographs of individual objects

James Webb — Extremely deep infrared views of the distant universe

Roman — Wide panoramic surveys containing millions of stars and galaxies

Roman has a 2.4-meter primary mirror, the same size as Hubble’s mirror. But Roman can see an area of the sky more than 100 times larger than Hubble can see in a single observation. That means Roman can survey huge portions of the universe far faster than Hubble. NASA estimates Roman may be able to survey some regions of space up to 1,000 times faster than Hubble while maintaining similar infrared image resolution.

Best for:

• Detailed images of galaxies and nebulae
• Visible and ultraviolet observations
• High-resolution studies of individual objects

Best for:

• Extremely distant galaxies
• Infrared astronomy
• Studying the early universe
• Examining planets and their atmospheres

Best for:

• Surveying enormous areas of space
• Studying billions of stars and galaxies
• Searching for planets throughout the Milky Way
• Mapping dark matter
• Investigating dark energy
• Discovering unusual objects for Hubble and Webb to study more closely

Roman’s Wide Field Instrument produces images containing approximately 300 megapixels.

Instead of photographing one relatively small area at a time, Roman will capture enormous sections of the sky while maintaining extremely sharp detail. In its first five years, Roman is expected to photograph more than 50 times as much sky as Hubble covered during its first 30 years. This could dramatically increase the number of discoveries astronomers make

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One of Roman’s most important missions will be studying two of the greatest mysteries in modern astronomy:

Dark Matter and Dark Energy

Scientists believe ordinary matter—the stars, planets and everything we can directly see—represents only a small portion of the universe. Roman will study enormous numbers of galaxies and examine how the structure of the universe has changed over billions of years. Its observations could help scientists better understand why the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate.

Roman will also conduct one of the largest searches for planets ever attempted. It will monitor huge numbers of stars toward the center of the Milky Way and use a phenomenon called gravitational microlensing to detect planets.

Roman could discover many types of worlds, including:

• Earth-sized planets
• Jupiter-like planets
• Planets far from their stars
• Free-floating planets traveling through space without a host star
• Entire planetary systems

These discoveries could help answer one of astronomy’s most fascinating questions:

Roman also carries an advanced experimental instrument called a coronagraph. The coronagraph blocks much of the overwhelming light coming from a star so astronomers can attempt to see the much fainter planets orbiting beside it.

The technology being demonstrated by Roman could eventually help future space telescopes directly photograph smaller Earth-like planets.

Roman and Webb could become an extremely powerful scientific team. Roman can search enormous regions of space and discover thousands of interesting objects. James Webb can then examine selected objects in extraordinary detail.

For example, Roman might discover thousands of unusual distant galaxies. Astronomers could then point Webb toward the most interesting ones to study their composition, temperature and history.

Roman will not outperform Webb in every area. Webb’s much larger mirror allows it to study extremely faint objects and see farther into infrared wavelengths. But Roman could dramatically exceed Hubble and Webb in several areas:

Roman can observe an area more than 100 times larger than Hubble in a single exposure.

Roman may survey portions of the sky up to 1,000 times faster than Hubble.

Roman will observe enormous populations of stars and galaxies rather than studying only small samples.

Roman could create some of the largest and most detailed maps ever made of the universe.

Because Roman will continuously observe enormous areas of space, it may discover rare objects and events astronomers were not even searching for.

Together, these three telescopes give humanity three extraordinary ways of viewing the universe.

Hubble gives us the detailed picture. James Webb gives us the deep view. Roman gives us the panoramic view.

Roman’s greatest contribution may not simply be producing a better photograph. Its true power will be revealing the universe on an enormous scale—allowing astronomers to study millions and billions of stars, galaxies and planetary systems and understand how they fit together.

Searching for answers beyond the night sky!

Man's Insatiable Quest to the stars continues!