NASA Details Roman Space Telescope Launch Coverage

NASA is all set to broadcast the pre-launch and launch activities for its groundbreaking Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. This next-generation observatory is poised to unlock some of the universe's most profound mysteries, including the enigmatic nature of dark energy.

The planned liftoff for the Roman telescope is scheduled for Sunday, August 30th, at 7:26 a.m. EDT. It will ascend into space aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, launching from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The live broadcast will commence at 6:20 a.m. EDT.

You can follow the entire event live across a variety of digital platforms. Find out where to watch online at https://www.nasa.gov/live.

Named in honor of NASA's pioneering first chief astronomer, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope promises to deliver unparalleled infrared vision. Its observational field will be at least 100 times larger than that of the iconic Hubble Space Telescope. Through its sharp and expansive surveys, scientists aim to investigate dark energy and dark matter, identify and characterize exoplanets, map billions of galaxies, study black holes, and explore celestial objects from our own solar system to the farthest reaches of the observable universe.

Following its launch and separation from the rocket, Roman will embark on a journey to the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point, known as L2, situated approximately one million miles from Earth. The mission is designed for a primary operational lifetime of five years, with a goal of extending its scientific output to a decade. Crucially, all scientific data gathered by Roman will be made publicly accessible after processing.

Here is the detailed schedule for NASA's mission coverage. Please note that all times are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and are subject to change based on real-time operational adjustments:

Saturday, August 29

9 a.m.: NASA's Roman Space Telescope Mission Science Briefing: This briefing will be held at the NASA Kennedy Press Site auditorium. Panelists include:

• Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Director, Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters
• Julie McEnery, Roman Telescope Senior Project Scientist, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• Vanessa Bailey, Roman Coronagraph Instrument Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Kristen McQuinn, Roman Science Operations Center Lead, Space Telescope Science Institute
• Lee Armus, Roman Science Support Center Lead, Caltech/IPAC

Media will have the opportunity to ask questions in person or by phone. In-person attendance in the auditorium will be limited. For dial-in details and passcodes, accredited media should contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov no later than one hour before the briefing.

10:30 a.m.: NASA's Roman Space Telescope Prelaunch News Conference: This news conference will also take place at the NASA Kennedy Press Site auditorium. Participants include:

• Nicky Fox, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Lucas Paganini, Roman Telescope Program Executive, NASA Headquarters
• Jackie Townsend, Roman Telescope Project Manager, NASA Goddard
• Denton Gibson, Launch Director, NASA's Launch Services Program, NASA Kennedy
• Julianna Scheiman, Director, NASA Science and Dragon Programs, SpaceX
• Justin McReynolds, Launch Weather Officer, 45th Weather Squadron, U.S. Space Force

Similar to the science briefing, media can ask questions in person or by phone, with limited in-person seating available. For dial-in details and passcodes, contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov at least one hour prior to the conference.

11:45 a.m.: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is anticipated to perform a jet flyby of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope and Falcon Heavy rocket on the launchpad. This aerial display will be broadcast live on the same stream as the prelaunch news conference, offering views of the launchpad during the transition. The flyby is contingent upon favorable weather conditions and operational considerations.

12 p.m.: In-person interviews are scheduled to take place in the NASA Kennedy Press News Center with the following individuals:

• Nicky Fox, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Lucas Paganini, Roman Telescope Program Executive, NASA Headquarters
• Dalia Kirschbaum, Acting Director, Sciences and Exploration Directorate, NASA Goddard
• Josh Schlieder, Roman Telescope Project Scientist, NASA Goddard
• Jason Hylan, Roman Telescope Flight Segment and Observatory Manager, NASA Goddard
• Bertrand Mennesson, Roman Coronagraph Instrument Project Scientist, NASA JPL
• Jeff Hanke, President, Space Systems, Space and Mission Systems, L3Harris Technologies
• Wendy Minotti, Program Manager, Exquisite Imaging, Space and Mission Systems, L3Harris Technologies
• Bonnie Patterson, Vice President and General Manager, Civil Space, Space and Mission Systems, BAE Systems
• Sarah Lipscy, Director, Strategic Operations, Space and Mission Systems, BAE Systems

Media who have previously been credentialed and wish to schedule an interview should contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov.

Sunday, August 30

6:20 a.m.: Launch coverage commences.

7:26 a.m.: Liftoff!

9:30 a.m.: Post-Launch News Conference: This conference will feature the following participants:

• NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
• Nicky Fox, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
• Jackie Townsend, Roman Telescope Project Manager, NASA Goddard
• Julie McEnery, Roman Telescope Senior Project Scientist, NASA Goddard
• Denton Gibson, Launch Director, NASA's Launch Services Program, NASA Kennedy

Media can participate in person or by phone, with limited auditorium seating. For dial-in information and passcodes, please contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom at ksc-newsroom@mail.nasa.gov at least one hour before the conference.

Audio-Only Coverage

Listen to the launch live via audio-only on NASA's “V” circuits by dialing 321-867-1220 or 321-867-1240. On launch day, mission audio countdown activities without NASA broadcast commentary will be available on 321-867-7135.

Additional launch audio feeds will be accessible through the Launch Information Service and Amateur Television System's VHF radio frequency 146.940 MHz, and the KSC Amateur Radio Club's UHF radio frequency 444.925 MHz (FM mode), receivable within Brevard County on the Space Coast.

NASA Website Launch Coverage

Comprehensive launch day coverage, including a livestream and blog updates tracking countdown milestones, will be available on the NASA website. On-demand streaming video and launch photos will be published shortly after liftoff. Stay updated with mission progress on the Roman launch blog.

Attend Launch Virtually

Members of the public are invited to register for a virtual attendance experience for the Roman launch at this link. NASA's Virtual Guest Program offers curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or schedule changes, and a virtual guest passport stamp upon completion.

Engage on Social Media

Share your excitement about the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by following and tagging these official NASA accounts:

• X: @NASARoman, @NASAUniverse, @NASAKennedy
• Facebook: @NASARoman, @NASAGoddard, @NASAKennedy
• Instagram: @NASAGoddard, @NASAUniverse, @NASAKennedy

The Roman telescope is managed by NASA Goddard, with significant contributions from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, Caltech/IPAC in Pasadena, California, the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, and a diverse team of scientists from various research institutions. Key industrial partners include BAE Systems Inc., L3Harris Technologies, and Teledyne Scientific & Imaging. Additional international contributions come from ESA (European Space Agency), JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), CNES (France), and the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (Germany). NASA's Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy, oversees the launch services for the Roman mission.

For more detailed information about NASA's Roman telescope, please visit: https://www.nasa.gov/roman