RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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A huge SpaceX rocket is just days away from launching NASA's next great observatory into space: the Roman Space Telescope. But if you're hoping to watch it live online, you'll have to get up pretty early on Sunday (Aug. 30) or you'll miss it.
NASA's Roman Space Telescope , named after the late NASA astronomer Nancy Grace Roman , will launch no earlier than Sunday on a mission to map the galaxy like never before. Liftoff is set for 7:26 a.m. EDT (1126 GMT) from a NASA pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida. You can follow the mission in real time with our Roman Space Telescope live updates .
" Roman’s deep, sweeping surveys will help investigate dark energy and dark matter, discover and characterize planets beyond our solar system, map billions of galaxies, study black holes and share enormous amounts of data with both scientists and the public," NASA said in an update Friday (Aug. 28), after clearing Roman for launch.
Here's a look at what time NASA's Roman Space Telescope will launch atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket , as well as how to watch online.
What time is SpaceX's Roman Space Telescope launch?
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is encapsulated in the payload fairing of its SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. (Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX is currently targeting the launch of NASA's Roman Space Telescope for no earlier than 7:26 a.m. EDT (1126 GMT) on Sunday, Aug. 30 .
The company will launch Roman into space atop a Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. A launch livestream will begin about one hour before liftoff.
While SpaceX hopes to launch Roman on time, the company can try again on Monday, Aug. 31 , if needed. A launch on that day would lift off a few minutes earlier, at 7:22 a.m. EDT (1122 GMT) , SpaceX has said.
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Can I watch SpaceX's Roman Space Telescope launch?
Yes, of course, you'll be able to watch SpaceX launch the Roman Space Telescope , and you have some options regarding where to tune in.
NASA will provide a launch webcast early Sunday morning. That livestream begins Aug. 30 at 6:20 a.m. EDT (1020 GMT) and will run through the launch and a post-launch briefing. That livestream can be found on the NASA website here , as well as all of NASA Social channels ( Facebook , Instagram , X ), and streaming channels like Twitch , Discovery+ , Amazon Prime , NASA+, and of course YouTube .
Our Space.com livestream can be found on our VideoFromSpace YouTube channel , and will feature NASA's livestream simulcast.
SpaceX will also host its own launch livestream via its X account , which will begin about an hour before liftoff.
As mentioned above, SpaceX aims to launch Roman for NASA at 7:26 a.m. EDT (1126 GMT) , with the flight lasting about 31 minutes and 31 seconds — the time post-liftoff at which Roman is expected to deploy into space.
A post-launch press conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. EDT (1330 GMT) and will include comments from the experts listed below.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman
Nicky Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
Jackie Townsend, Roman telescope project manager, NASA Goddard
Julie McEnery, Roman telescope senior project scientist, NASA Goddard
Denton Gibson, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services Program, NASA Kennedy
How long is SpaceX's Roman Space Telescope launch?
A diagram showing SpaceX's Roman Space Telescope launch profile on a Falcon Heavy rocket. The flight should last about 31.5 minutes. (Image credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX's Roman Space Telescope launch for NASA will last just over 31 minutes (31 minutes and 31 seconds, to be exact), in order to send Roman on its way into deep space.
After liftoff, the Falcon Heavy rocket's core booster and twin side boosters will fire for just under 2.5 minutes, after which the side boosters will separate and return to Earth. If all goes well, they should land about 7 minutes, 23 seconds after liftoff.
"This is the first and third flight for the two first stage side boosters supporting this mission, which previously launched the GOES-U and Viasat-3 F3 missions," SpaceX wrote in a mission overview . "Following stage separation, Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters will land on SpaceX’s Landing Zones 2 and 40 (LZ-2 and LZ-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida." SpaceX does not appear to be planning a core first-stage landing off shore for this flight.
The three first-stage boosters of the Falcon Heavy rocket that will launch NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on Aug. 30, 2026. SpaceX shared this photo via X on Aug. 26. (Image credit: SpaceX)
Here's a look at the launch and flight timeline from SpaceX.
SpaceX Roman Space Telescope Launch Timeline TIME (Hr:Min:Sec)
EVENT
T-0:53:00
Flight director polls for fueling
T-0:50:00
1st stage RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
T-0:45:00
1st stage liquid oxygen loading begins
T-0:35:00
2nd stage RP-1 fuel loading begins
T-0:18:30
2nd stage liquid oxygen loading begins
T-0:07:00
Falcon Heavy engine chilldown begins
T-00:00:59
Flight computer commanded to begin final prelaunch checks
T-00:00:45
Launch Director GO for launch poll
T-00:0:20
Propellant tanks pressurized for flight
T-00:00:06
Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence start
T-00:00:00
Liftoff
SpaceX Roman Space Telescope Post-Launch Timeline TIME (Hr:Min:Sec)
FLIGHT EVENT
T+00:00:00
Liftoff!
T+00:01:08
"Max Q"
T+00:02:24
Side boosters' engines shut down
T+00:02:27
Side boosters separate
T+00:02:32
Side boosters flip
T+00:02:43
Side boosters' boostback burn begins
T+00:03:48
Side boosters' boostback burn ends
T+00:03:51
1...
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