NASA successfully activated the Wide Field Instrument (WFI) aboard the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on September 15, 2026, marking a significant milestone in its mission to investigate dark energy and the expansion of the universe. The WFI is a powerful imaging spectrometer designed to capture light across the visible spectrum and into the near-infrared range. It can observe areas 100 times larger than those viewed by the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam instrument, while maintaining a level of precision comparable to the Hubble Space Telescope. The WFI features 18 detectors, each with 16 megapixels, arranged in three rows of six to maximize its imaging capacity. Before the WFI could be activated, it needed to reach a stable operating temperature. The team waited about ten days for the instrument to cool to an average of -65 °C, allowing it to be fully dried and decontaminated. After the heating system was turned off, the WFI cooled further to -143 °C, at which point the infrared detectors were activated. On September 13, 2026, the team completed the setup of the filter system in zero gravity for the first time, capturing the first image. The detectors continued cooling until they reached -183 °C, at which point the WFI was fully operational. Once all 18 detectors were activated, the team captured data from multiple directions. From these images, they selected one to zoom in on, producing an image of a single star. The star appeared more like a wheel than a sun due to the lack of corrections and focus, which will be refined in future observations. These initial tests are crucial for calibrating the instrument to ensure it provides accurate data for its scientific mission. NASA also tested the telescope’s guidance system, which can track a single target without losing it, a key feature for long-term observations. In addition to the WFI, the coronagraph—a specialized instrument designed to block out the light of stars to reveal faint exoplanets—has also been tested. The coronagraph uses a series of shields and mirrors to achieve unprecedented clarity in imaging exoplanets. Although it has not yet transmitted its first images, ground teams confirmed that communication with the coronagraph is functioning properly, allowing them to control and direct the instrument. Thermal systems are operating normally, and calibration will continue for the next 30 days before the coronagraph can begin capturing its first images.