NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launches on an eye opening mission : NPR           (nasa-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-dark-energy-supernova.html)   (Space) (https://feeds.npr.org/1026/rss.xml)         (https://media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon-180x180.png)  (../../../../../media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon.ico)  (../../../../../media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon-96x96.png)  (../../../../../media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon-48x48.png)  (../../../../../media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon-32x32.png)  (../../../../../media.npr.org/chrome/favicon/favicon-16x16.png)                           (../../../../../prod-eks-bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/persistent-css-c4706a437a1954ec7adb.css)  (../../../../../prod-eks-bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/persistent_medium-css-c4706a437a1954ec7adb.css)  (../../../../../prod-eks-bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/persistent_large-css-c4706a437a1954ec7adb.css)  (https://prod-eks-bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/fonts-css-c4706a437a1954ec7adb.css)  (../../../../../prod-eks-bundles.npr.org/dist/bundles/newsStory-css-c4706a437a1954ec7adb.css)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Accessibility links (nasa-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-dark-energy-supernova.html#mainContent) Skip to main content  (https://help.npr.org/contact/s/article?name=what-are-the-keyboard-shortcuts-for-using-the-npr-org-audio-player) Keyboard shortcuts for audio player          Open Navigation Menu   (https://www.npr.org/) (NPR logo)     (https://www.npr.org/newsletters/)   Newsletters     (https://shopnpr.org)   NPR Shop   (https://plus.npr.org/?utm_medium=nprweb&source=globalnav)   Get NPR+        Close Navigation Menu   (https://www.npr.org/)   Home    (https://www.npr.org/sections/news/)   News      Expand/collapse submenu for News   (https://www.npr.org/sections/national/) National  (https://www.npr.org/sections/world/) World  (https://www.npr.org/sections/politics/) Politics  (https://www.npr.org/sections/business/) Business  (https://www.npr.org/sections/health/) Health  (https://www.npr.org/sections/science/) Science  (https://www.npr.org/sections/climate/) Climate  (https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/) Race    (https://www.npr.org/sections/culture/)   Culture      Expand/collapse submenu for Culture   (https://www.npr.org/books/) Books  (https://www.npr.org/sections/movies/) Movies  (https://www.npr.org/sections/television/) Television  (https://www.npr.org/sections/pop-culture/) Pop Culture  (https://www.npr.org/sections/food/) Food  (https://www.npr.org/sections/art-design/) Art & Design  (https://www.npr.org/sections/performing-arts/) Performing Arts  (https://www.npr.org/lifekit/) Life Kit  (https://www.npr.org/sections/gaming/) Gaming    (https://www.npr.org/music/)   Music      Expand/collapse submenu for Music   (https://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts/) Tiny Desk   (https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/606254804/new-music-friday) New Music Friday   (https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/) All Songs Considered   (https://www.npr.org/sections/music-features) Music Features   (https://www.npr.org/series/770565791/npr-music-live-sessions) Live Sessions     (https://www.npr.org/podcasts-and-shows/)   Podcasts & Shows      Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows   Daily (https://www.npr.org/programs/morning-edition/) ()  Morning Edition   (https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-saturday/) ()  Weekend Edition Saturday   (https://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/) ()  Weekend Edition Sunday   (https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/) ()  All Things Considered   (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510318/up-first/) ()  Up First   (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510051/here-x26-now/) ()  Here & Now   (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510310/npr-politics-podcast/) ()  NPR Politics Podcast    Featured (https://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/) ()  Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!   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(https://www.npr.org/sections/space/) Space   NASA is about to launch a space telescope that could change how we see the universe (NASA is about to launch a space telescope that could change how we see the universe)  (NASA is about to launch a space telescope that could change how we see the universe)  (https://www.npr.org/2026/08/28/nx-s1-5905370/nasa-nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-dark-energy-supernova)   August 28, 2026 6:00 AM ET   Heard on (https://www.npr.org/programs/all-things-considered/nx-s1-5921780/all-things-considered-for-august-28-2026) All Things Considered    By  (https://www.npr.org/people/2101004/joe-palca) Joe Palca         NASA is about to launch a space telescope that could change how we see the universe (https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2026/08/20260828_atc_nasa_is_about_to_launch_a_space_telescope_that_could_change_how_we_see_the_universe.mp3?t=progseg&e=nx-s1-5921780&p=2&seg=6&d=251&size=4022484&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer)  Listen  ·  4:11     4:11    (https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5905370)   Transcript    Toggle more options  (https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2026/08/20260828_atc_nasa_is_about_to_launch_a_space_telescope_that_could_change_how_we_see_the_universe.mp3?t=progseg&e=nx-s1-5921780&p=2&seg=6&d=251&size=4022484&sc=siteplayer&aw_0_1st.playerid=siteplayer)   Download     Embed        Embed (<iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5905370/nx-s1-9905543" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"></iframe>)  < iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5905370/nx-s1-9905543" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">    (https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5905370)   Transcript          (The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, named after NASA's first chief astronomer, will launch on Aug. 30.)    The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, named after NASA's first chief astronomer, will launch on Aug. 30. NASA  hide caption      toggle caption   NASA    The universe is a strange place — filled with exploding stars, ancient galaxies, and unseen worlds. Now, astronomers are about to get a brand new tool to explore it. For new discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines,  (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510351/short-wave/) follow NPR’s Short Wave podcast.      (https://www.npr.org/2018/12/30/680994535/nancy-grace-roman-mother-of-hubble-space-telescope-has-died)   (Astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, known as the "Mother" of Hubble, died at 93.)    (https://www.npr.org/sections/obituaries/) Obituaries   (https://www.npr.org/2018/12/30/680994535/nancy-grace-roman-mother-of-hubble-space-telescope-has-died) Nancy Grace Roman, 'Mother Of Hubble' Space Telescope, Has Died, At Age 93     The $4.3 billion Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is scheduled for launch Aug. 30. Named for NASA's first chief astronomer, the observatory is expected to reveal new information about the expansion of the universe and discover multitudes of planets orbiting distant stars. Roman, as it is known to its friends, has an unusual history. About 15 years ago NASA was making plans to build a space telescope that could, among other things, search for exploding stars known as Type 1A supernovas. These supernovas were used as a kind of cosmological measuring stick to uncover a mysterious force called dark energy that was causing the universe to expand — a discovery that earned the Nobel Prize in 2011. Sponsor Message       (https://www.npr.org/2021/09/16/1036600340/nasa-is-launching-a-new-telescope-that-could-offer-some-cosmic-eye-candy)   (NASA Is Launching A New Telescope That Could Offer Some Cosmic Eye Candy)    (https://www.npr.org/sections/science/) Science   (https://www.npr.org/2021/09/16/1036600340/nasa-is-launching-a-new-telescope-that-could-offer-some-cosmic-eye-candy) NASA Is Launching A New Telescope That Could Offer Some Cosmic Eye Candy     Cosmologist Daniel Scolnic at Duke University says finding more of them would be key to better understanding that expansion. As NASA was developing plans for this new telescope, a call came in from the government office in charge of surveillance satellites. (https://www.npr.org/2023/02/07/1154840710/whats-the-fairest-way-to-share-cosmic-views-from-hubble-and-james-webb-telescope)   (What's the fairest way to share cosmic views from Hubble and James Webb telescopes?)    (https://www.npr.org/sections/science/) Science   (https://www.npr.org/2023/02/07/1154840710/whats-the-fairest-way-to-share-cosmic-views-from-hubble-and-james-webb-telescope) What's the fairest way to share cosmic views from Hubble and James Webb telescopes?     "The National Reconnaissance Office reached out to NASA," Scolnic says, "saying, 'We have this amazing satellite sitting in a hangar that we're not using. And what what do you guys think about instead of pointing downwards, we point upwards, and you guys use it?'" NASA said yes. It took some substantial modifications, but now that old satellite is set to become NASA's next major space observatory. (https://www.npr.org/2022/07/26/1113707352/the-long-and-winding-journey-of-the-james-webb-space-telescope)   (Ernie Wright stands near the James Webb Space Telescope mirrors as they sit just outside the testing chamber in the x-ray calibration facility at MSFC.)    (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510355/considerthis) Consider This from NPR   (https://www.npr.org/2022/07/26/1113707352/the-long-and-winding-journey-of-the-james-webb-space-telescope) The Long And Winding Journey Of The James Webb Space Telescope     Scolnic says that the new observatory could fundamentally change the scientific model that astronomers use to understand our universe. "In the last few years, there have been measurements saying that model might be wrong — and that's something that Roman will absolutely nail, whether the model's right or wrong," he says. (https://www.npr.org/2025/04/25/1247139345/space-planet-nine-telescope-observatory)   (Rubin Observatory at night in March 2024.)    (https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510351/short-wave) Short Wave   (https://www.npr.org/2025/04/25/1247139345/space-planet-nine-telescope-observatory) If another planet is out there, this telescope could help find it     Another goal of the telescope is to spend a month surveying all the stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Julie McEnery is Roman's project scientist. She says even though Roman has broadly the same sensitivity and sharpness of vision as the currently orbiting Hubble Space Telescope, its design lets it do things much faster. "That one month of observations to survey our Milky Way galaxy would take about a century with Hubble," says McEnery. (https://www.npr.org/2026/04/10/nx-s1-5781327/nasa-artemis-ii-return-earth-splashdown-moon)   (WATCH: Artemis II astronauts splash down on Earth)    (https://www.npr.org/sections/science/) Science   (https://www.npr.org/2026/04/10/nx-s1-5781327/nasa-artemis-ii-return-earth-splashdown-moon) WATCH: Artemis II astronauts splash down on Earth     Instead of focusing on a single object, Roman is designed to make catalogs of large swaths of the sky, and McEnery says these catalogs will be available to everyone, not just academics. "You can be a teacher in a high school in Kentucky and your students have the opportunity to see Roman data at the same time as a professor in Princeton," she says. One professor eager to get his hands on Roman data is Scott Gaudi at The Ohio State University. Along with colleagues, Gaudi developed a technique for detecting planets around distant stars. It's called gravitational microlensing, and it measures the way those planets bend the starlight that passes them by. Sponsor Message        (https://www.npr.org/2024/05/16/1250250249/spacex-repair-hubble-space-telescope-nasa-foia)   (The Hubble Space Telescope in 2009, locked in a space shuttle's cargo bay, before the final repair work ever done.)    (https://www.npr.org/sections/space/) Space   (https://www.npr.org/2024/05/16/1250250249/spacex-repair-hubble-space-telescope-nasa-foia) Private mission to save the Hubble Space Telescope raises concerns, NASA emails show     Albert Einstein described the idea in 1936 but thought it would be impractical. New technology has proven him wrong — and Gaudi expects Roman will find tons of planets that way. "We're looking for planets that are just completely undetectable by any other method," Gaudi says. That includes planets at the center of our galaxy, "that are very analogous to our own solar system planets like Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune." In addition to new planets, Roman should also reveal new galaxies, helping astronomers to get a better idea of the large-scale structure of the universe. But predicting what will be Roman's greatest accomplishments over the course of its five-year mission is a tricky business. "The history of astronomy really has shown that when you get a new capability, and especially a survey capability, you learn something new, something unexpected," says Wendy Freedman, an astronomer at the University of Chicago. "Often that turns out to be the most exciting part of a new facility. So I am completely open to what this telescope will find."  CorrectionAug. 29, 2026  A previous version of this story misspelled Ohio State University professor Scott Gaudi's last name as Gauti.      NPR does not offer or accept money for coverage or interviews. Anyone who makes such an offer or request is not an NPR employee and does not represent NPR.   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