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Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope blog is NASA's hub for the mission's launch updates, where all are invited for behind-the-scenes looks on Roman's road to launch and beyond. This flagship mission’s vast, deep surveys will help astronomers explore dark matter, dark energy, exoplanets, and almost anything from our own solar system to galaxies at the edge of the observable universe. Follow along to join in on the excitement!

Launch Dress Rehearsal Complete Ahead of NASA Roman Space Telescope Liftoff

Roman Space Telescope spacecraft animation still
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Illustration

The team preparing to launch NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope completed a mission dress rehearsal on Thursday from Florida’s space coast.

During the exercise, Roman teams ran through a full end-to-end simulation of launch-day operations leading up to liftoff. They practiced powering up the spacecraft, simulated fueling operations for the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, conducted mock weather briefings, and practiced troubleshooting a variety of scenarios.

This rehearsal is a standard part of preparation and contributes to mission success, especially since NASA missions often involve unique requirements specific to a given spacecraft. During the simulation, the team was on console at NASA and SpaceX facilities at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and at SpaceX facilities at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center, where they tested and demonstrated proficiency on everything from communications to mission systems.

Completing the rehearsal brings the team one step closer to sending Roman on its mission to address essential questions about dark energy, planets outside our solar system, and infrared astrophysics. By conducting wide-field surveys, the telescope will explore the universe’s structure, evolution, and composition.

NASA and SpaceX are targeting launch no earlier than 7:26 a.m. EDT on Sunday, Aug. 30, from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy.

Follow the Roman mission at:

X: @NASARoman, @NASAUniverse, @NASAKennedy
FB: @NASARoman, @NASAGoddard, @NASAKennedy
Instagram: @NASAGoddard, @NASAUniverse, @NASAKennedy