NASA’s Roman Space Telescope: Falcon Heavy Upper Stage Takes Over

NASA Science reports the Falcon Heavy carrying the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has cleared a rapid series of ascent milestones. The center core reached main engine cutoff, the stages separated, and the second stage's Merlin Vacuum engine ignited about four minutes after launch. The fairing split and fell back to Earth, while both side boosters touched down in Florida — one on its first flight, the other on its third, having previously supported the GOES-U and Viasat-3 missions. Roman remains attached to the second stage as the engine continues to burn, and mission controllers are set to acquire a signal through NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite system.

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