NASA's new Roman Space Telescope has started an important test phase. This step is called commissioning. Engineers check that every part of the telescope works well. The telescope will study dark energy, far away galaxies, and planets outside our solar system.
Roman can take wide pictures of space in one shot. Scientists hope it will work alongside telescopes like Hubble and Webb. Commissioning can take several weeks to finish. NASA plans to share the telescope's first pictures once testing is done.
GREENBELT, Md. — Sept. 19, 2026
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has entered a critical testing phase called commissioning. During commissioning, engineers verify that every system aboard the spacecraft works as designed. The process typically takes weeks before scientists can begin full science operations.
Roman is designed to capture much wider views of space than Hubble or Webb. Its wide field of view will let scientists survey large portions of the sky quickly. Scientists plan to use Roman to study dark energy, the mysterious force pushing the universe apart. The telescope will also search for planets orbiting distant stars.
Commissioning includes checking the telescope's mirrors, instruments, and communication systems. Any problems found during this phase are addressed before science work begins. NASA has not announced an exact date for the end of commissioning. Once complete, the mission is expected to operate for several years. Astronomers around the world are eager to use data from the new telescope. Its results could complement discoveries already made by other major space telescopes.
Roman's mission builds on decades of NASA's investment in space-based astronomy. Scientists hope the telescope will help answer long-standing questions about how galaxies form. Public interest in the mission has grown since its launch earlier this year. NASA plans to share more updates as testing continues in the coming weeks.