[Nancy Grace Roman’s Legacy] [Music throughout]
Neta Bahcall: I’ve always admired
Nancy for many reasons, for
her personality, for her determination, and
strength of character. For being
always a straight-shooter, no-nonsense person
and knowing how to get things done. Ed Weiler: And what most
astronomers don’t know, even though there are thousands and thousands and
thousands, and that’s not an overstatement, of astronomers today
who owe their careers, who owe their careers to the Hubble
Space Telescope data. That is getting Hubble Space Telescope
helped them publish, helped them get promoted, helped them tenure, etc, etc
etc. They owe that debt of gratitude
to Nancy Roman because she made this system happen.
Bonnie Patterson: While I never had the privilege of meeting Dr. Roman, I’m inspired to be working
the observatory with her namesake. Neta: She has been a role model
not only for me but for many other
scientists, especially women scientists. Bonnie: As a
woman in STEM, I’ve met my share of adversity and bias over the years,
and I’m so proud and privileged to be working on such an amazing mission
that has chosen to honor one of the first women pioneers in this field.
Neta: She has been a remarkable role model,
a remarkable scientist, and
leader, and so
excited to have this telescope named after
my colleague and friend, Nancy Roman. Ed: NASA
naming the WFIRST telescope after Nancy Roman was
long overdue. I give
high credit to NASA, they have succeeded where others have
failed in terms of recognizing this woman who has had such an impact
on the field of space astronomy. When Nancy came
to NASA there was no space astronomy, period. There was
ground-based astronomy. Everybody did astronomy from the ground and were stuck looking through
that yucky atmosphere we have above us. Nancy made
things happen. Bonnie: I would like to take this opportunity to say how privileged we are at
L3Harris to work on the mission and to say ‘thank you’ to
Nancy Grace Roman for paving the way for the rest of us. I wouldn’t be here
without women like you. [Music]
[Music]