Nancy Grace Roman Telescope Launch
Celebrating NASA's First Chief of Astronomy (1960)
Nancy Grace Roman: She Opened the Heavens
On August 30, 2026, NASA is scheduled to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Kennedy Space Center—a fitting tribute to the extraordinary woman whose vision helped make the Hubble Space Telescope a reality.
Nancy Grace Roman joined NASA in 1959, only months after the agency was established, and became its first Chief of Astronomy in 1960 and its first woman to hold an executive position. At a time when women faced formidable barriers in science, Roman became a pioneering astronomer, influential scientific leader, and tireless advocate for space-based astronomy.
For nearly two decades, she championed the ambitious Large Space Telescope that would become Hubble. She brought scientists and engineers together, helped define its scientific objectives, prepared testimony, briefed government officials, and lobbied Congress for the funding needed to turn an audacious idea into reality. Her determination earned her the enduring title “Mother of Hubble.”
The Roman Space Telescope carries her legacy forward. With a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble’s, it will open new windows on dark energy, exoplanets, galaxies, and the evolution of the universe.
CME honors Nancy Grace Roman through She Opened the Heavens, an original poem by AIAC Chairman Len Levie, brought to life in a beautiful musical video.
