Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation

Spacecraft & Launch · NASA Image Library

Play as tour

Teams inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida encapsulate the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope within the payload fairing on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, ahead of mating to a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. Encapsulation shields the spacecraft during rollout, ascent, and the early phases of flight. Roman will investigate dark energy and dark matter, conduct a statistical census of planetary systems, and enable a broad range of additional astrophysics research. Liftoff from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy is targeted for no earlier than Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026.

Released
August 21, 2026
Category
Spacecraft & Launch
Credit
NASA/Sydney Rohde (Rocz) · KSC

Downloads from NASA

Source: images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-20260821-PH-SER01_0004

14 photos in this series

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Encapsulation

More spacecraft & launch

See all →
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launch87 photos
Spacecraft & Launch

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launch
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Liftoff, Launch Comple6 photos
Spacecraft & Launch

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Liftoff, Launch Comple
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launch13 photos
Spacecraft & Launch

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launch
Roman Space Telescope Broadcast Launch VAB Roof5 photos
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Broadcast Launch VAB Roof
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Preflight
Spacecraft & Launch

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Preflight
Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Prelaunch9 photos
Spacecraft & Launch

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Prelaunch
Roman Space Telescope Vertical at LC 39A12 photos
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Vertical at LC 39A
Roman Space Telescope Broadcast Isaacman Fly by 39A5 photos
Spacecraft & Launch

Roman Space Telescope Broadcast Isaacman Fly by 39A