The Digital Press

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a $3.5 billion mission designed to explore dark energy and discover new worlds, is nearly ready for launch but faces cancellation under the Trump administration’s draft 2026 budget.

Why it matters: Canceling Roman wastes billions spent and halts a mission that could illuminate dark energy and detect habitable exoplanets.

The stakes: Proposed budget cuts slash NASA science divisions by up to 50%, jeopardizing planetary missions and climate research.

The big picture: Roman’s wide-field imaging and infrared capabilities complement global observatories, critical for understanding the universe and maintaining international partnerships.

Commenters say: Many express outrage over scrapping a nearly completed mission, fearing long-term damage to U.S. space leadership and scientific progress.