Trump calls in to NASA press conference to celebrate launch of Roman Space Telescope, a mission he tried to cancel

Live updates

1. 15d ago

   Trump Praises Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope After SpaceX Launch

   President Trump dialed into a NASA press conference to celebrate the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a project he previously attempted to cancel. SpaceX launched the 4.3 billion dollar observatory, which NASA describes as a "great observatory" designed to study the dark universe and identify rare or unusual celestial phenomena. During the briefing, Trump claimed, "I'm supplying you all that money." The telescope is now in space, though NASA expects the first images to arrive in 2027.

   Why it matters

   The telescope's successful deployment follows a history of political tension regarding its funding and existence. This mission represents a major investment in deep-space observation to solve fundamental mysteries of the universe.

   What is confirmed

   • SpaceX launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
   • The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is a NASA observatory designed to seek the dark universe.
   • President Trump called into a NASA press conference to celebrate the launch.
   • President Trump previously tried to cancel the Roman Space Telescope mission.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope cost 4.3 billion dollars.
   • President Trump gatecrashed the NASA press conference.

   What to watch next

   • The arrival of the first telescope photos in 2027
   • NASA confirmation of the telescope's operational status in orbit
   Sources used for this update (10)

   1. Spaceflight Now — Roman Space Telescope, NASA’s next ‘great observatory,’ poised for Sunday launch
   2. CNN — NASA’s newest space telescope will launch to spot ‘the weird, the rare and the unusual’
   3. NASA (.gov) — NASA’s Dark Universe-Seeking Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launches
   4. Ars Technica — Why it matters that President Trump just dialed into a NASA news conference
   5. Space — Trump calls in to NASA press conference to celebrate launch of Roman Space Telescope, a mission he tried to cancel
   6. The Hill — Trump hails NASA’s space telescope launch
   7. Business Insider — Trump gatecrashed a NASA press conference after SpaceX launched a $4.3 billion space telescope
   8. www.usatoday.com — NASA's Roman telescope is in space. But don't expect photos until 2027
   9. www.scientificamerican.com — What’s next for NASA’s new Roman Space Telescope?
   10. gizmodo.com — Trump Crashed NASA’s Press Conference to Praise the Space Telescope He Repeatedly Tried to Kill
   confidence 90%