The Roman Space Telescope (Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope) which was formerly known as WFIRST (Wide Field Infra Red Survey Telescope) has had an launch ordered for it according to a NASA announcement on 19 July. NASA has given the contract to SpaceX which will fly the astronomical observatory on its Falcon Heavy rocket in October 2026 from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The contract is valued at US$255 million for the launch and other associated costs. The 4.2 metric ton space telescope uses a 2.4 m mirror given by the US National Reconnaissance Office and will operate at the Earth Sun L-2 Lagrangian point about 1.5 million km from Earth.
Falcon Heavy carries Arabsat 6A downrange. Courtesy: SpaceX
