Mother of ”Hubble” Telescope Dies at 93

CAIRO, Jan.2 (SEE)- Nancy Grace Roman, who began working with ”NASA” in 1959 and is credited as a major force behind the effort fund and deploy the ”Hubble Space Telescope” and died at age of 93.

”Roman” was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1926. Aged eleven, she set up an astronomy club among her classmates in ”Nevada”, sparking her life long interest in the subject of space. She worked for NASA for 21 years, including a spell as chief of astronomy and solar physics from 1961 to 1963, becoming the first woman in a leadership position at the space agency.

Nancy Grace Roman

As a woman in science her road wasn’t always easy in an industry dominated by men. ”Roman” carved a legacy that will live on long after the ”Hubble” is eventually retired. In an interview with ”NASA”’ celebrated her 90th birthday she was announced that her parents sparked her love of science and started her on the path that became her career.

”Roman” was a pioneer in science and the space industry and becoming the first woman executive within ”NASA”, as well as the agency’s first chief of astronomy.

Nancy Grace Roman

She is perhaps best known for setting up the committee which developed the ”Hubble Telescope”. ”Roman” was involved with the early planning and remit for the space telescope. It is this involvement that led to the moniker “Mother of Hubble” becoming associated with her although she was modest.

”Hubble Space Telescope” was launched into low Earth orbit in 1990, named after the astronomer ”Edwin Hubble”, famous for his work in extragalactic astronomy and observational cosmology. It taking images as it whirls around Earth at about 17,000 miles per hour.

‘Hubble” Telescope

The idea of ”Hubble” was among the astronomical community for generations; it was not something that was new. Astronomers badly wanted a large telescope above the atmosphere.