What time will SpaceX launch NASA's Roman Space Telscope on Aug. 30? (Full mission timeline)

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August 28, 2026, 10:31 PM

• •NASA's Roman Space Telescope was scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center.
• •NASA's webcast was set to begin at 6:20 a.m. EDT, with SpaceX also hosting a livestream on X about an hour before liftoff.
• •The primary launch time was 7:26 a.m. EDT on Aug. 30, with a backup opportunity on Aug. 31 at 7:22 a.m. EDT.
• •The mission timeline called for side-booster separation about 2 minutes 27 seconds after liftoff and side-booster touchdown at about T+7:40.
• •Falcon Heavy's upper stage was to perform a second burn before deploying Roman at T+31:31.
• •Roman will travel toward the Sun-Earth L2 point, where it will begin a months-long sequence of deployments, calibrations and tests.

SpaceX targeted 7:26 a.m. EDT on Aug. 30 to launch NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope aboard a Falcon Heavy from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39A. The article outlines where to watch NASA's and SpaceX's livestreams, notes a backup launch opportunity on Aug. 31 at 7:22 a.m. EDT, and says the mission had a 60% chance of favorable weather. It also gives a detailed ascent timeline, including side-booster landings about 7 minutes and 40 seconds after liftoff and spacecraft deployment at 31 minutes and 31 seconds. After separation, Roman is expected to begin deployments and head toward the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 2 about 1 million miles from Earth.

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