Nancy Grace Roman, shown here at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in approximately 1972, was the first female executive and the first Chief of Astronomy at NASA
The original prototypes of the LEGO® Ideas "Women of NASA" set displayed in front of the Apollo Lunar Module in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, August 20, 2018. Credit: National Air and Space Museum
Nancy Grace Roman, standing here in front of a 1/6-scale model of the Hubble Space Telescope at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, is known to many as the "Mother of Hubble" for her foundational role in the observatory's planning and program structure, paving the way for missions like the Roman Space Telescope (formerly WFIRST).
NASA's Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate Dr. Edward J. Weiler presents the Women in Aerospace's Lifetime Achievement Award to retired NASA chief astronomer Nancy Grace Roman at the organization's annual awards ceremony and banquet held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Arlington, VA on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. Four current NASA leaders and one retiree were recognized for their work by Women in Aerospace. The event celebrates women's professional excellence in aerospace and honors women who have made outstanding contributions to the aerospace community. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
The history of women's contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is long and varied. But it has also often been overlooked or underrepresented. This series highlights only a very few of the women who have made important discoveries and have had a crucial impact on STEM fields. This, however, is not just a look into the past. Today, women are in every STEM discipline, in every type of job, and represent the widest range of background and experiences.
The Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror reflects an American flag. Its surface is figured to a level hundreds of times finer than a typical household mirror.
The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror, which will collect and focus light from cosmic objects near and far, has been completed. Using this mirror, Roman will capture stunning space vistas with a field of view 100 times greater than Hubble images.
Crane operators lower the support equipment to move the Roman Space Telescope’s primary mirror. Using this mirror, Roman will provide a new view into the universe, helping scientists solve cosmic mysteries related to dark matter, dark energy, and planets around other stars.