NASA takes pride in naming its telescopes after influential figures from the history of astronomy. Two major examples being the Hubble Space Telescope, named after famous American astronomer Edwin Hubble, and the James Webb Space Telescope, in recognition of the second NASA administrator who oversaw the agency during a monumental era for spaceflight from 1961 to 1968.
Following this theme, NASA has recently announced that it will be renaming what was previously known as the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) to the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. This remarkable woman was NASA’s first chief of astronomy after arriving at the space agency in 1959 and pioneered the use of space telescopes for broader universal observations. Without her there would likely be no Hubble or James Webb and Roman established a well-respected legacy in the astronomical community before her passing in 2018.
“It is because of Nancy Grace Roman’s leadership and vision that NASA became a pioneer in astrophysics and launched Hubble, the world’s most powerful and productive space telescope,” said NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine. “I can think of no better name for WFIRST, which will be the successor to NASA’s Hubble and Webb Telescopes.”