Astronomy & Space

Cutting-edge infrared space telescope Roman set to launch

How the science connects

Space telescopeInfrared astronomy

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The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a NASA-led infrared observatory, is scheduled to launch on August 30, 2026, from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The telescope features a wide field of view and will conduct sky surveys in visible to near-infrared wavelengths. Its primary scientific objectives include investigating dark energy and dark matter, as well as discovering new exoplanets.


Understanding dark energy and dark matter could revolutionize our knowledge of the universe's composition and evolution, as these phenomena constitute approximately 95% of the universe but remain poorly understood. The discovery of new exoplanets will advance the search for potentially habitable worlds and expand our understanding of planetary system formation.


The NASA-led Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is set to launch on 30 August 2026 at 07:26 EDT / 12:26 BST / 13:26 CEST from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.

With its wide field of view and advanced optical design, the Roman telescope will conduct detailed scans of the sky in visible to near-infrared light. In doing so, Roman will help reveal the nature of dark energy and dark matter and find new exoplanets.

Source: Cutting-edge infrared space telescope Roman set to launch