NASA is preparing to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center at the end of August. Although the mission’s primary objectives involve investigating dark matter, dark energy, and the broader evolution of the universe, researchers have identified a secondary capability for the observatory: planetary defense.
Equipped with a 300-megapixel infrared camera, the telescope features a field of view roughly 100 times larger than that of the Hubble Space Telescope. This wide-angle perspective allows it to scan vast regions of space, making it well-suited to detect asteroids as small as 60 feet in diameter—a size comparable to the object that caused significant damage over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in 2013.
According to Bryan Holler, a researcher at the Space Telescope Science Institute, the telescope’s ability to provide rapid infrared observations could significantly enhance current efforts to track near-Earth objects. While the telescope’s software is currently configured to discard streaks caused by moving objects, astronomers plan to adjust these processes to isolate and analyze potential asteroid trajectories. This data would help experts determine an object's size and composition, providing critical information for assessing impact risks.
The Roman telescope is expected to function as part of a broader network of observatories, including the upcoming Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). By providing different viewing angles and rapid follow-up capabilities, Roman will help scientists prioritize which asteroids require further investigation. This collaborative approach aims to improve the precision of orbital tracking, allowing researchers to distinguish between benign space rocks and those that may pose a genuine threat to Earth.
Source: MIT Technology Review
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