Duke Physicists Celebrate Launch of Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
Published: October 6, 2026
The recent launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope marks both a milestone and a new beginning for space research, particularly for Duke physicists Dan Scolnic and Michael Troxel. They witnessed the rocket’s successful takeoff on August 30 from Kennedy Space Center, a culmination of extensive effort in developing groundbreaking technology and data collection for the telescope.
Scolnic, a co-principal investigator on the Roman Supernova Project Infrastructure Team, is focused on analyzing Type Ia supernovae. These supernovae, which explode consistently, offer crucial data for understanding the universe’s expansion rate. He emphasizes the importance of the telescope, stating, “The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is NASA’s next flagship mission.”
Troxel, leading efforts on the Roman Simulations Technical Working Group, prepares researchers for the telescope’s capabilities, which far surpasses its predecessor, the Hubble Telescope. He notes that Roman can achieve what Hubble would need a thousand years to complete in just one year.
As the telescope embarks on its journey, anticipation builds for the rich scientific data expected to begin arriving later this year.
For more details, read the full story by Corbie Hill in Duke Magazine here.
