‘Mother of Hubble Telescope’ dies aged 9393

Nancy Roman, who NASA refers to as the “mother of the Hubble telescope,” has died at the age of 93. The astronomer brought together engineers and astronomers to create the Hubble telescope, while ensuring political support for the project.

Roman died on Boxing Day in a hospital in the American town of Germantown, writes The Washington Post. In 1961, she became NASA’s first female executive as chief of astronomy. She is best known for her contribution to the creation of the Hubble telescope. She was already retired when the Hubble telescope went up in 1990. The Hubble telescope has since made many discoveries about our universe.

In 1962 she led the mission of the Orbiting Solar Observatory-1, a device that measured radiation from the sun in space. She has received several awards for her work and three years ago she appeared as a figure in the Women of NASA Lego set.

Episode of ESA HubbleCast about Nancy Roman