J SCOTT SMITH PHOTO VIA ORLANDO CITY SOCCER
A NASA engineer who helped build the agency’s newest space telescope will give Central Florida audiences a behind-the-scenes look at the mission on Saturday, November 7, at Orlando Science Center (Website).
J. Scott Smith, Optical Telescope Assembly Manager for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Website), will present at 4 p.m. in the VyStar Adventure Theater as part of the science center’s monthly CoLAB (Community Learning and Beyond) Day. The presentation comes two months after the telescope lifted off on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center on August 30.
Smith will explore how the observatory is designed to change scientists’ understanding of the cosmos. Roman’s wide field of view, rapid survey capabilities, and infrared sensitivity will help scientists discover distant planets, explore faraway galaxies, and investigate dark matter and dark energy. Roman’s field of view is at least 100 times larger than Hubble’s, and the telescope could measure light from a billion galaxies over its lifetime. NASA is targeting the telescope’s first public images for early 2027.
Smith has spent more than 22 years at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center developing technologies for space exploration, according to the official press release. He has led the Roman telescope’s optical assembly since 2016.
CoLAB Day runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Smith’s talk capping the day. The monthly program connects visitors with community partners working in science, technology, engineering, and math through presentations, hands-on activities, and conversations with experts.
Smith’s presentation and all CoLAB activities are included with admission. Visitors can also explore the science center’s four floors of exhibits, plus giant screen films and planetarium shows in the Dome by Dr. Phillips Charities.
For full details and tickets, click HERE.
