NASA to Unveil Roman Telescope, Hold Media Briefing

The fully assembled Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will be showcased ahead of its planned launch as early as fall 2026.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 7:32am

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NASA is inviting media to its Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, on April 21 for a look at the agency's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which recently completed construction and is undergoing final prelaunch testing. The event will include a news conference with NASA leadership to provide updates on the flagship telescope's progress and upcoming launch timeline.

Why it matters

The Roman Telescope is a highly anticipated successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, with advanced optics and instruments that will allow it to observe the universe in unprecedented detail. Its launch will mark a major milestone in NASA's ongoing efforts to expand humanity's understanding of the cosmos.

The details

The fully assembled Roman Telescope is currently housed in the largest clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The telescope's two major segments have been integrated, and the team is now completing final prelaunch testing ahead of the planned launch by May 2027, with a potential earlier liftoff as soon as fall 2026.

  • The media event is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
  • The news conference will take place at 4 p.m. EDT on April 21.

The players

Jared Isaacman

NASA Administrator.

Nicky Fox

Associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters.

Jamie Dunn

Roman telescope project manager, NASA Goddard.

Julie McEnery

Roman telescope senior project scientist, NASA Goddard.

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What they’re saying

“This will be one of the last opportunities to view the fully integrated flagship telescope before it ships to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of a launch planned as early as this fall.”

— NASA

What’s next

The Roman Telescope is scheduled to ship to NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the media event, ahead of its planned launch by May 2027, with a potential earlier liftoff as soon as fall 2026.

The takeaway

The unveiling of the fully assembled Roman Telescope marks a significant milestone in NASA's efforts to build the next generation of space observatories that will expand our understanding of the universe. The media event and upcoming launch will generate excitement and anticipation among the scientific community and the public.