# Roman Atlas: Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope images Status: Roman launched August 30, 2026 and is in commissioning on its way to Sun–Earth L2. NASA expects the first images in early 2027; none have been released yet. ## Key facts - **Launch:** Aug 30, 2026, 7:26 a.m. EDT — SpaceX Falcon Heavy, Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center - **Destination:** Sun–Earth L2 — About 1 million miles (1.5 million km) from Earth, alongside Webb - **Primary mirror:** 2.4 m — The same size as Hubble’s - **Camera:** 300 megapixels — Wide Field Instrument: 18 detectors of 4096 × 4096 pixels - **Field of view:** 0.28 deg² — About 1.5× the area of the full Moon; at least 100× Hubble’s - **Sharpness:** 0.11″ / pixel — Hubble-class resolution across the whole field - **Wavelengths:** 0.5–2.3 µm — Red visible light into the near-infrared - **Filters:** 8 + grism + prism — F062, F087, F106, F129, F146, F158, F184, F213 - **Mission:** 5 years — Designed for a 5-year extension; refuelable by design - **Names on board:** 1.3 million+ — Public names carried on a memory card to L2 ## Latest images - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010039/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: Goddard Space Flight Center Search and Rescue Office Chief Lisa Mazzuca speaks with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman during an event held to celebrate the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010038/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, left, is shown examples of search and rescue technology by Search and Rescue Office Chief, Lisa Mazzuca during an event held to celebrate the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010037/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: Goddard Space Flight Center Search and Rescue Office Chief Lisa Mazzuca speaks with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman during an event held to celebrate the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010036/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman greets Goddard Space Flight Center Search and Rescue Office Chief Lisa Mazzuca during an event held to celebrate the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010035/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman speaks with employees in the Roman Space Telescope Launch Support Operations Center during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010034/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman greets employees in the Roman Space Telescope Launch Support Operations Center during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010033/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman greets employees in the Roman Space Telescope Launch Support Operations Center during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010032/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman greets employees in the Roman Space Telescope Launch Support Operations Center during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010031/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman greets employees in the Roman Space Telescope Mission Operations Center during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010030/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman speaks with employees in the Roman Space Telescope Mission Operations Center during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010029/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman greets employees in the Roman Space Telescope Mission Operations Center during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010028/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman speaks with employees in the Space Telescope Operations Control Center during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010027/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman views the Dragonfly mass spectrometer in the Spacecraft Systems Development and Integration Facility during an event held to celebrate the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010026/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman poses for a photo with employees during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo Credit… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010025/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman speaks with employees over coffee and donuts during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010024/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman speaks with employees over coffee and donuts during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010023/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman speaks with employees over coffee and donuts during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010022/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman speaks with employees over coffee and donuts during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010021/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, left, and Goddard Space Flight Center director Jamie Dunn listen to a comment by an audience member during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010020/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, left, provides remarks while Goddard Space Flight Center director Jamie Dunn looks on during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010019/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: An audience member shares a comment with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman during an event held to celebrate the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010018/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: An audience member asks NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman a question during an event held to celebrate the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo Credit… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010017/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: Donuts are seen during a coffee and donuts event with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, held to celebrate the launch of NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010016/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman provides remarks during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey… - [Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Celebration](https://roman.mixinvisuals.com/image/lNHQ202609010015/nancy-grace-roman-space-telescope-celebration/) — September 1, 2026: Goddard Space Flight Center director Jamie Dunn provides remarks during an event held to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Photo Credit… ## Timeline - May 20, 2020 — WFIRST renamed for Nancy Grace Roman: NASA names its next flagship survey telescope after its first Chief of Astronomy. - Jan 2026 — Observatory complete: Roman is fully assembled at NASA Goddard and begins final environmental testing. - August 21, 2026 — Encapsulated: Roman is sealed inside the Falcon Heavy payload fairing at Kennedy Space Center. - August 30, 2026 — Launch: Liftoff at 7:26 a.m. EDT on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy. Solar panels and sunshade deploy about 83 minutes later. - September 4, 2026 — Antenna and aperture cover deployed: NASA confirms the high-gain antenna and visor-like aperture cover are deployed; commissioning is under way. - Early Dec 2026 — Arrival at L2: After a roughly three-month cruise Roman settles into a halo orbit around Sun–Earth L2. - Early 2027 — First images: NASA expects to share Roman’s first images in early 2027, after commissioning and calibration. - After commissioning — Science operations begin: Core community surveys start, with every observation made public as soon as it is processed.