NASA's next space-telescope is almost ready to launch but may be killed by cuts

a year ago

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a $3.5-billion observatory, is nearing completion and could launch as early as fall 2026.
The telescope aims to study dark energy, discover new worlds, and search for signs of alien life.
A leaked draft of the 2026 budget proposes canceling the Roman Space Telescope, sparking criticism from scientists and policymakers.
The draft budget also includes significant cuts to NASA's science division, affecting heliophysics, Earth science, and planetary science programs.
The proposed cuts would cancel missions like DAVINCI to Venus and a Mars sample return mission, and reduce astrophysics funding by two-thirds.
Experts and lawmakers have expressed dismay, calling the budget proposal 'unserious' and a waste of taxpayer money.
The Roman Space Telescope, previously known as WFIRST, has been a top priority in astrophysics since 2010 and is designed to complement other observatories like Euclid and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
Canceling Roman would not only halt scientific progress but also damage international collaborations and future astrophysics missions.
The telescope's coronagraph is a key prototype for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, which aims to search for signs of life on distant planets.
Critics argue that cutting flagship missions like Roman undermines long-term scientific planning and international trust in U.S. space programs.

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