NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is prepped for launch, and one phase of Roman is ending. It began with the 2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey, where the community called for a wide-field infrared survey telescope: WFIRST. This was Roman’s start. Institutes and businesses across the country began developing new hardware to support this mission. At the observatory’s heart was a mirror the same size as Hubble’s and a set of 18 state-of-the-art detectors that allowed for both a massive field of view and extremely high angular resolution. This combination would allow Roman to create vast and detailed surveys of the universe unlike anything seen before. Roman also holds a Coronagraph Instrument to test hardware never before flown in space. It will be able to see distant planets orbiting other stars and is a major step toward finding life outside the solar system.Much of Roman’s hardware was developed and built in-house at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Other key systems came from places like NASA’s JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory), BAE Systems, and L3Harris. Beginning in 2023, all the parts converged on Goddard. Inside Goddard’s enormous clean room, a team of dedicated engineers and technicians spent over three years assembling the pieces. Throughout the process, they also used Goddard’s testing facilities to evaluate the hardware’s ability to survive launch and space. Pieces, assembled sections, and finally the entire observatory were subjected to tests like vibration and acoustic shaking, thermal vacuum freezing, and centrifuge g-force loading.The early completion and future success of the Roman Space Telescope is a testament to the unwavering commitment and effort of thousands of people working together toward a common goal. Thanks to all their efforts, Roman will broaden our understanding of the universe and our place within it.Music: “Caelum,” Dan Thiessen [BMI], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || RomanGoForLaunch_Still.jpg (3840x2160) [1.6 MB] || RomanGoForLaunch_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [88.5 KB] || RomanGoForLaunch_Still_thm.png (80x40) [7.5 KB] || 15080_RomanGoForLaunch_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [170.3 MB] || RomanGoForLaunchCaptions.en_US.srt [3.0 KB] || RomanGoForLaunchCaptions.en_US.vtt [2.8 KB] || 15080_RomanGoForLaunch_4k.mp4 (3840x2160) [354.2 MB] || 15080_RomanGoForLaunch_4k_Best.mp4 (3840x2160) [699.6 MB] || 15080_RomanGoForLaunch_ProRes_3840x2160_2997.mov (3840x2160) [12.2 GB] ||

This video opens with an aerial view of the complete observatory inside NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s largest clean room, the Spacecraft Systems Development and Integration Facility. The room is a class 10,000 clean room with over one million cubic feet of space.Some parts of Roman stow for launch. Once in space, these deployable components move into their operational positions. Engineers test these deployments on the ground to make sure they will go as planned in space. Four of the six Solar Array Sun Shield panels deploy. They fold against the spacecraft to fit inside the rocket fairing and then deploy in space to make a large flat plane that both collects light to generate electricity and helps keep the rest of Roman cool. The Deployable Aperture Cover (DAC), which protects the mirrors during launch and then unfolds to help shield them from sunlight, also test deploys. During this test, lines connect to it and pull upward to negate Earth’s gravitational forces, which Roman will not experience in space. In preparation for vibration and acoustic testing, technicians put a clean tent over Roman and transport it out of the clean room. They push it next to the massive vibration tables, one of which shakes horizontally and the other vertically. A crane lifts Roman and the tent onto the tables, and also performs a 90-degree rotation after one horizontal test so that Roman can be tested on a different axis with the same table. Engineers attach hundreds of sensors and run tests of increasing intensity. During and after each test, they carefully study the data to make sure that Roman is behaving as anticipated.For the acoustic test, they push it into the test chamber where a six-foot-tall horn projects up to 150-decibel sound at varying frequencies. A thick door seals the chamber and prevents most of the sound from escaping, although ear protection is still required for anyone nearby during a test. These tests are mostly to ensure that Roman can survive the rigors of launch. Once in space, it won’t be subjected to nearly as much force.Once the tests are successfully completed, Roman re-enters the clean room and the tent is removed. After a deployment test of the High-Gain Antenna, done on a structure called the Pantheon, technicians lift Roman to a special rollover fixture that can safely tilt and spin Roman’s 18,500 pound mass. Once Roman is tilted horizontal for the first time as a full observatory, engineers slowly spin it through 360 degrees to make sure everything stays in place like it is supposed to.After the rotations, technicians carefully perform a manual opening of the DAC to reveal the mirror. In this position, they can inspect the entire optical path all the way back to the instrument sensors and perform surface cleaning on the inside of the protective outer barrel and DAC. This is also a chance for final goodbyes to the mirror. Once the DAC is closed, no one will ever see the mirror as clearly again.With all the assembly and testing at Goddard completed, the team begins the delicate process of loading Roman into an airtight container known as the CHARIOT (Conditioned Housing for Air, Road, Imaging optics assembly, and Observatory Transport). First they attach arms which will form the interior sides and support Roman. Then they lift and move Roman into the lower bed of the CHARIOT. An inner lid goes on first, followed by a larger outer lid with ducting to keep the observatory the right temperature and preserve the clean environment. As the CHARIOT leaves the clean room, Roman takes its first step in the journey to space.Music credit: “Touching Clouds,” Andre Jesus Oliveira and Andre Miguel Lopes Roque [PRS], Universal Production MusicWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || YTframe_Roman_Hardware_Highlights_WinterSpring2026_7.jpg (1280x720) [331.6 KB] || Roman_HH_Winter-Spring2026_10mbps.mp4 (1920x1080) [233.2 MB] || Roman_HH_Winter-Spring2026_20mbps.mp4 (1920x1080) [477.4 MB] || RomanHHEarly2026Captions.en_US.srt [2.0 KB] || RomanHHEarly2026Captions.en_US.vtt [1.9 KB] || Roman_HH_Winter-Spring2026_NoText.mp4 (1920x1080) [1.1 GB] || Roman_HH_Winter-Spring2026_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [3.2 GB] ||

Moving Roman: Propulsion. Fuel is a finite resource for NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Watch this video to learn more about how the tanks for propellent are installed and why they are an essential part of the mission.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.Music Credits: Univeral Production Music: "Black Nebula" by Thomas Daniel Bellingham"Maelstrom Dream" by Lucie Rose"Evolution of Life" by David Stephen Goldsmith"Maximist" by Michael Blainey"Greatness Takes Time" by Beth Perry and Chris Doney"Asthma inhaler" by natty23"Compressed Air" by thompsonmanWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Moving_Roman_-Propulsion-Thumbnail.jpg (1280x720) [979.8 KB] || Moving_Roman-Propulsion-Thumbnail_searchweb.png (320x180) [120.8 KB] || Moving_Roman-Propulsion-Thumbnail_thm.png (80x40) [8.2 KB] || Moving_Roman-Propulsion_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [727.4 MB] || Moving_Roman-Propulsion-4k.webm (3840x2160) [78.9 MB] || Moving_Roman-Propulsion.en_US.srt [4.4 KB] || Moving_Roman-Propulsion.en_US.vtt [4.2 KB] || Moving_Roman-Propulsion-4k.mp4 (3840x2160) [720.5 MB] || Moving_Roman-Propulsion4k.mp4 (3840x2160) [2.4 GB] || Moving_Roman-_Propulsion_ProRes.mov (3840x2160) [16.6 GB] ||

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a next-generation space telescope that will survey the infrared universe from beyond the orbit of the Moon. The spacecraft's giant camera, the Wide Field Instrument (WFI), will be fundamental to this exploration. The WFI features the same angular resolution as Hubble but with 100 times the field of view. Data it gathers will enable scientists to discover new and uniquely detailed information about planetary systems around other stars. The WFI will also map how matter is structured and distributed throughout the cosmos, which should ultimately allow scientists to discover the fate of the universe. Watch this video to see a simplified version of how it works.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.Music" "Horizon Ahead" from Killer TracksWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || RomanWide_Field_Still.jpg (3840x2160) [827.1 KB] || 13235_WFI_Roman_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [92.9 MB] || 13235_WFI_Roman_1080.webm (1920x1080) [13.2 MB] || 13235_WFI_Roman_Best_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [272.1 MB] || WFI_Roman_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [2.5 KB] || WFI_Roman_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [2.5 KB] || 13235_WFI_Roman_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [1.6 GB] ||

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope's Instrument Carrier arrives at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The workers remove the grid-like structure from the truck container that brought it and move it into a clean tent. Once there, engineers remove the protective wrapping and inspect the carbon fiber struts. The Instrument Carrier sits between the primary mirror and spacecraft bus and will hold Roman's Wide Field Instrument and Coronagraph technology demonstration.Music: "Knowledge and Process" from Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available. || Roman_Instrument_Carrier.jpg (1849x1004) [426.6 KB] || Roman_Instrument_Carrier_searchweb.png (320x180) [105.1 KB] || Roman_Instrument_Carrier_thm.png (80x40) [10.6 KB] || Roman_Instrument_Carrier_Arrival_Good.webm (1920x1080) [13.2 MB] || Roman_Instrument_Carrier_Arrival_Good.mp4 (1920x1080) [105.1 MB] || Roman_Instrument_Carrier_Arrival_Best.mp4 (1920x1080) [257.6 MB] || Roman_Instrument_Carrier_Arrival_Captions.en_US.srt [894 bytes] || Roman_Instrument_Carrier_Arrival_Captions.en_US.vtt [907 bytes] || Roman_Instrument_Carrier_Arrival_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [1.4 GB] ||

This video appeared at the conclusion of the Legacy of Light event on September 25, 2024. It foregrounds the importance of the Hubble, Webb and Roman observatories in enabling the Habitable Worlds Observatory, which could answer one of our most fundamental questions: are we alone?Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: "Infinite Horizons," Dan Thiessen [BMI] Universal Production MusicComplete transcript available. || NASM_HWO_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [409.5 KB] || NASM_HWO_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [35.4 KB] || NASM_HWO_Still_thm.png (80x40) [3.3 KB] || LegacyOfLightConclusionCaptions.en_US.srt [972 bytes] || LegacyOfLightConclusionCaptions.en_US.vtt [934 bytes] || LegacyOfLightConclusion_ProRes_1920x1080_2398.mov (1920x1080) [2.0 GB] || LegacyOfLightConclusion_better.mp4 (1920x1080) [455.3 MB] || LegacyOfLightConclusion_good.mp4 (1920x1080) [204.0 MB] || LegacyOfLightConclusion_YT.mp4 (1920x1080) [842.2 MB] ||

The NASA Astrophysics fleet of spacecraft has an impressive range of capabilities. What is the next step in exploring the cosmos? The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, NASA’s upcoming flagship mission, will take Hubble’s resolution and widen its infrared view to more than 100 times the coverage in every single image. Roman is a survey telescope that can peer through the Milky Way’s obscuring dust, and see faint, distant galaxies. Roman’s rigid design allows it to scan large regions of sky very quickly. Hubble would take 1,000 years to observe what Roman can see in one. Roman’s 18 4k x 4k detectors create 300-megapixel images covering an area of sky slightly larger than the full Moon. Roman will also look at the same regions of space repeatedly over time, allowing astronomers to see changes and observe temporary events like supernovae. Roman’s surveys of deep space and the center of our Milky Way galaxy will find thousands of new exoplanets, survey millions of galaxies, help us understand dark matter and dark energy, and learn more about the evolution of the universe. ||

With a view 100 times bigger than that of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope WFIRST will aid researchers in their efforts to unravel the secrets of dark energy and dark matter, and explore the evolution of the cosmos. It also will discover new worlds outside our solar system and advance the search for worlds that could be suitable for life. Scientists participating in the mission discuss the spacecraft, the science, and its potential. Slated to launch in the mid-2020s, the observatory will operate at a gravitational balance point known as Earth-sun L2, which is located about 930,000 miles from Earth and directly opposite the sun.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || WfirstAfta-PrintStill2_print.jpg (1024x576) [79.3 KB] || WfirstAfta-PrintStill2.png (3840x2160) [4.7 MB] || WfirstAfta-PrintStill2_searchweb.png (320x180) [59.2 KB] || WfirstAfta-PrintStill2_thm.png (80x40) [4.6 KB] || 12153_WFIRST_Best_Both_Worlds_ProRes_1280x720_5994.mov (1280x720) [3.1 GB] || 12153_WFIRST_Best_Both_Worlds_H264_Best_1280x720_5994.mov (1280x720) [1.7 GB] || 12153_WFIRST_Best_Both_Worlds_FINAL_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [671.5 MB] || 12153_WFIRST_Best_Both_Worlds_H264_Good_1280x720_2997.mov (1280x720) [174.0 MB] || 12153_WFIRST_Best_Both_Worlds_FINAL_appletv.m4v (1280x720) [122.3 MB] || 12153_WFIRST_Best_Both_Worlds_H264_Good_1280x720_2997.webm (1280x720) [25.0 MB] || 12153_WFIRST_Best_Both_Worlds_FINAL_appletv_subtitles.m4v (1280x720) [122.4 MB] || 12153_WFIRST_BestBoth_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [4.6 KB] || 12153_WFIRST_BestBoth_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [4.4 KB] || NASA_PODCAST_12153_WFIRST_Best_Both_Worlds_FINAL_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [41.6 MB] ||

Learn about the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) mission.Music: "We Dissolve in Stars" and "Climb the Ladder" both from Killer Tracks.Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || WFIRST_Beauty_still_print.jpg (1024x576) [97.2 KB] || WFIRST_Beauty_still.png (3840x2160) [36.5 MB] || WFIRST_Beauty_still.jpg (3840x2160) [988.6 KB] || WFIRST_Beauty_still_searchweb.png (320x180) [72.0 KB] || WFIRST_Beauty_still_thm.png (80x40) [5.1 KB] || YOUTUBE_1080_12238_WFIRST_Overview_V3_FINAL.mp4 (1920x1080) [845.8 MB] || 12238_WFIRST_Overview_V3_H264_1080p.mov (1920x1080) [759.1 MB] || 12238_WFIRST_Overview_V3_H264_1080_2997.m4v (1920x1080) [377.3 MB] || 12238_WFIRST_Overview_V3_H264_1080p.webm (1920x1080) [41.2 MB] || 12238_WFIRST_Overview_V3_ProRes_3840x2160_2997.mov (3840x2160) [19.3 GB] || YOUTUBE_HQ_12238_WFIRST_Overview_V3_FINAL_4k.mov (3840x2160) [6.5 GB] || 12238_WFIRST_Overview_V3_H264_4K.mov (3840x2160) [1.1 GB] || WFIRST_overview_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [6.7 KB] || WFIRST_overview_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [6.4 KB] ||

Every year, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. recruits hundreds of interns to spend the summer working on revolutionary missions featuring state-of-the-art technology. Maddy Lambert is a student majoring in physics at the University of Madison - La Crosse. ||