'Are we alone in the universe?' NASA moves into action: New generation telescope Roman in space

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) successfully launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope it developed to study the structure of the universe and planets beyond the Solar System.

Following the launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, Roman separated from the vehicle and began its journey toward its target orbit. The telescope is expected to take about three months to reach its destination, roughly 1.6 million kilometers from Earth.

100‑fold Wider Field of View than Hubble and James Webb

In a statement issued by NASA, it was noted that Roman's field of view is about 100 times wider than that of the Hubble and James Webb space telescopes.

The new‑generation telescope is expected to play a significant role especially in the study of planets beyond the Solar System. During its mission, Roman is aimed at detecting and mapping hundreds of thousands of new exoplanets.

Answer to the Question 'Are We Alone in the Universe' Will Be Sought

NASA official Nicky Fox said at the press conference that Russia would begin a new era in space research.

Fox, who said it would fundamentally change Russia's view of the universe, stated that about 100,000 new exoplanets are expected to be discovered with telescopes.

Fox said that one of NASA’s most fundamental goals is also"Are we alone in the universe?"He said that finding an answer to the question would be one of NASA's fundamental goals, and that the atmospheres of distant planets would be examined and the suitability of these celestial bodies for life investigated.

First images expected in 2027.

NASA has planned the primary mission duration of the Roman Space Telescope to be five years. Extending the mission to up to ten years in the future is the goal.

According to NASA's planning, the first images that Roman will obtain are expected to be released in early 2027.

The telescope is intended not only to investigate exoplanets, but also to contribute to answering important questions about the structure of the universe.

Dark Matter and Dark Energy Will Be Studied

According to experts, Roman could provide a significant contribution to the study of dark matter and dark energy, which are believed to constitute about 95% of the universe but whose nature remains largely unresolved.

Thanks to the telescope's broad observational capacity, the aim is to map the universe's large-scale structure in greater detail and to gain a better understanding of galaxy formation and evolution.

Will Send 1.4 Terabytes of Data Daily

According to NASA, the Roman telescope will transmit roughly 1.4 terabytes of data to Earth each day during its mission.

The analysis of the vast amounts of data that will emerge will leverage artificial intelligence and machine‑learning systems. Volunteer scientists are also expected to contribute to the evaluation of the collected data.

Named After NASA’s First Chief Astronomer

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope takes its name from NASA’s first chief astronomer, Nancy Grace Roman. Roman also played a pivotal role in the development of the Hubble Space Telescope.

The telescope’s scientific operations will be conducted by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Researchers from various countries and international scientific organizations will also participate in the project.

The data that Roman will obtain are expected to bring new information to the scientific world in many areas, from understanding planets outside the Solar System to the process of the universe's expansion.