Take Part in the Mission

Current

• Share in the Science

  Learn about Roman science and make sure your science is represented.

  Join the Roman Science Collaboration

  Help amplify Roman’s science returns as well as the benefits of the telescope’s science investigations by participating in the Roman Science Collaboration. This group is centered on community, aiming to spark and support collaborations that draw on the creative insights and talents of researchers who have complementary interests and expertise. Membership in this group is not required to do science with Roman data, or to apply for observing time or funding.

  Submit ROSES Proposals

  Periodically, there are opportunities to apply for Roman-specific grants through NASA’s Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES). When opportunities are available, this NASA page will reflect them. To prepare to submit a grant, find basic information about ROSES opportunities. Current ROSES proposals for Roman preparatory science are due March 6, 2025.

  Upcoming Roman Cycle 1 Proposals

  The Roman Cycle 1 Call for Proposals is expected to be announced in late 2025. These funded opportunities will be for both archival and new observations. Unlike HST and JWST, all Roman proposals will be submitted through the upcoming Science Support Center (SSC) Roman Telescope Proposal System (RTPS) tool. 

  Attend Science Conferences

  Participate in talks about Roman papers and research, or apply to present your work at STScI-hosted Roman science meetings and meetings hosted by Roman partner institutions. You may also present your work at Roman-focused sessions at AAS conferences.

• Gain Experience with Software Tools and Data

  Prepare for Roman’s upcoming Cycle 1 Call for Proposals by creating your own Roman simulated datasets or accessing a number of simulated datasets.

  Roman Science Platform

  This web-based cloud computing environment allows you to query, visualize, simulate, and analyze Roman data. The platform couples data-code proximity with a pre-configured software environment, making it easier to work with data. The platform also includes pre-loaded notebook tutorials and scientific workflows tailored to specific astronomical use cases. The official public launch is expected in summer of 2025, but check back regularly for training and workshop opportunities to become an early tester.

  Simulations and Tools

  Roman already has a number of simulation tools available for observers to begin to get a sense of the Wide Field Instrument (WFI) instrument capabilities and to plan their own observations. Several simulators exist to provide different functionality for different purposes. These tools are available to download on your own machine or use on the cloud within the Roman Science Platform, including:

  • STPSF: An easy-to-use Python package that simulates the point spread function (PSF) for James Webb and the Roman space telescope optics. 
  • Space Telescope Imaging Product Simulator (STIPS): Produces simulations of full-detector post-pipeline astronomical scenes for Roman’s WFI. STIPS has the ability to add instrumental distortion (when available) as well as calibration residuals from flatfields, dark currents, and cosmic rays. It automatically includes Poisson noise and readout noise. It does not include instrument saturation effects.
  • Pandeia: The backend software used for the Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) system generates simple astronomical scenes and computes the signal-to-noise ratio for the WFI.

  OpenUniverse Simulation

  OpenUniverse2024 is a project that simulates spatially overlapping imaging surveys that will be carried out jointly by Roman and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The simulations were created using Argonne’s Theta cluster and consist of:

  • The Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) European Large Area Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) Survey, ELAIS-S1, Deep Drilling Field (DDF)
  • The Roman Time-Domain Survey (TDS) shifted to overlap the ELAIS region and LSST DDF
  • Overlapping LSST Wide-Fast-Deep (WFD) survey (with rolling cadence)
  • Overlapping Roman Wide-Area Survey (WAS) in the same region
  • A deep-field calibration region of the Roman WAS in the same region

• Plan for Roman’s Calls for Proposals

  Tools are already available for use to build out your proposals.

  Proposal Tools

  Approximately 25% of Roman’s time during its first five years will be dedicated to new observations, referred to as General Astrophysics Surveys. Design, build, and view survey designs in the Astronomer’s Proposal Tool (APT). APT has a long heritage as STScI’s proposal planning tool for HST and JWST. Roman observations are primarily organized as surveys to cover large samples of objects or large areas of the sky, and for time-domain monitoring. To aid in the design and implementation of surveys, APT for Roman has a number of new features. 

  Simulation Tools and Data 

  Compared to other NASA Astrophysics flagship missions like Hubble, Webb, Spitzer, and Chandra, Roman is expected to fund a greater proportion of proposals for analysis of Roman’s data compared to approved programs for new observations. Prepare to use Roman’s large survey data sets and propose for Roman observations with software tools and simulated data.

  Roman Telescope Proposal System (RTPS)

  Unlike HST and JWST, all Roman proposals will be submitted through the upcoming Science Support Center (SSC) RTPS tool.