Successful launch for NASA’s next generation telescope

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (NBC, KYMA) - NASA launched a next-generation telescope into space Sunday.

The Nancy Grace Roman space telescope lifted off atop a SpaceX Falcon heavy rocket from NASA's Kennedy space center in Florida just before 7:30 a.m.

The twin side boosters that helped propel the telescope into space separated from the core shortly after and successfully returned to Cape Canaveral.

A little over half an hour after launch the telescope successfully separated from the rocket and began flying free to orbit.

Named in honor of Nancy Grace Roman, NASA's first Chief of Astronomy, the Roman telescope is set to spend more than three months journeying to its final destination, located roughly 1 million miles from earth.

From there it is set to spend the next five years surveying vast stretches of space, beyond our solar system.

Helping scientists to gain a better understanding of some of the biggest mysteries of the universe, including dark energy and dark matter.