NASA is ready to explore the cosmos in a whole new way, thanks to its next-generation Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.<\/p>\n
Scientists and engineers have spent some twenty years designing and building the observatory, which weighs as much as a Tyrannosaurus rex<\/em> and is the size of a tour bus. The telescope launched into space August 30, with plans to start delivering a flood of cutting-edge astronomical data early next year.<\/p>\n Within the mission\u2019s first five years, scientists expect the Roman Space Telescope, named for NASA\u2019s first head of astronomy and a vital advocate for the Hubble Space Telescope, to unlock mysteries about the enigmatic dark matter and dark energy that dominate our universe. It will also detect tens of thousands of alien planets, paint interactions between galaxies and spot exploding stars \u2014 and much, much more.<\/p>\n