NASA successfully launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Sunday, August 30, according to agency officials. The mission, backed by a total budget of more than $4 miliar (sekitar lebih dari Rp70 triliun), aims to map the universe with unprecedented scope, hunt for exoplanets, and study cosmic-scale gravity.
Mission Scope and Destination at Lagrange Point 2
The Roman Space Telescope is currently traveling toward an orbit known as Lagrange Point 2 (L2), situated sekitar 1,6 juta kilometer from Earth. According to NASA, the journey takes about one month. Upon arrival, mission scientists will spend the first 90 days conducting thorough testing, calibration, and preparation before scientific operations officially begin.
“This telescope will find thousands of supernova, puluhan ribu planet, miliaran galaksi, dan puluhan miliar bintang,” Fox said, noting that its exceptionally wide field of view will allow researchers to achieve feats previously deemed impossible. First images from the telescope are anticipated on Earth by early 2027.
Surpassing Hubble: Speed and Data Generation
Operating on principles similar to the aging Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990, the Roman Space Telescope is built to survey the cosmos at a dramatically accelerated pace. According to project data, Roman can complete sky observations in just one month—a task that would require up to 100 years using Hubble.
Did you know? While Hubble has gathered roughly 400 terabyte data over more than three decades in space, scientists estimate that the Roman Space Telescope will generate over 500 terabyte data every single year.
“Jangkauan Roman yang sangat luas akan memungkinkan kita menemukan hal-hal yang aneh, langka, dan tidak biasa,” said senior project scientist Julie McEnery on Saturday, August 29. “Kami akan mengubah cara kita memahami ungkapan mencari jarum di tumpukan jerami.”
Honoring NASA Pioneer Nancy Grace Roman
Named after Nancy Grace Roman—one of the first women to hold senior leadership positions at NASA and the agency’s first Chief of Astronomy in the 1960s and 1970s—the observatory marks a historic milestone. According to retired NASA scientist Ed Weiler, naming the spacecraft after her is a long-overdue tribute. “Ini sangat, sangat pantas,” Weiler remarked. “Saya yakin Nancy akan sangat bangga.”
The path to launch faced legislative hurdles. Congress consistently voted to maintain the program. Ultimately, NASA confirmed that the launch was executed nine months ahead of schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Roman Space Telescope launched?
The telescope launched on Sunday, August 30, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
Where is the Roman Space Telescope going?
It is traveling to Lagrange Point 2 (L2), located sekitar 1,6 juta kilometer away from Earth.
How does Roman compare to the Hubble Space Telescope?
While Hubble took over 30 years to gather 400 terabytes of data, Roman is designed to generate over 500 terabytes annually and map the sky in one month instead of a century.
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