As reported by Ukrinform, this is stated in the press release of the American agency.

According to the contract, the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope mission is scheduled for October 2026 from the Florida spaceport.

Musk’s company will be allocated $255 million, which includes the launch fee and other mission-related expenses.

“The telescope’s science program will include specialized research to address questions in cosmology, including the effects of dark energy and dark matter, as well as the study of exoplanets. The work of the US agency, the Rome Space Telescope, will allow further investigation of astrophysical phenomena to achieve other scientific goals. It will be part of an important research program.” Said.

The telescope itself was formerly known as the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), but was later renamed in honor of Nancy Grace Roman for her outstanding work at NASA that paved the way for the development of large space telescopes.

Nancy Grace Roman is an American astronomer who was one of the first female administrators at NASA. She is known as “Hubble’s Mother” for her role in planning the Hubble Space Telescope. Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in public speaking, education, and the advocacy of women in science.

As Ukrinform reported, previously the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) postponed the launch of the VIPER rover, designed to search for water on the Moon, to November 2024.

Photo: NASA