Roman 'Scope Now Vertical; Launching As Early As August 30, 2026: From Kennedy.

We are quickly approaching the historic launch window, for the first NASA space 'scope named after a (paler) "Hidden Figure" (of sorts): a early-era brilliant NASA scientist -- who simply happened to be. . . female.

Here's the latest from the team at NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center:

. . .NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has completed important prelaunch milestones as it prepares to launch nine months ahead of schedule. . . .

Engineers completed additional cleaning to remove any trace contaminants from the facility’s airlock before crews unboxed and raised Roman vertically in the high bay.

Named for NASA’s first chief astronomer and “mother of the Hubble Space Telescope,” the Roman Space Telescope will offer a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble’s, resulting in deep, sweeping explorations of the cosmos.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting launch no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy. . . .

Now you know. Smiling into the mid-summer sunshine.

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