CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.– SpaceX will introduce a new area observatory for NASA overnight and you can view the action live online. The personal spaceflight business will release the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) on one of its formerly flown Falcon 9 rockets. The frequent flier is scheduled to launch at 1:00 a.m. EST (0600 GMT) from Pad 39A at NASAs Kennedy Space Center here in Florida. You can view the launch live in the window above and on the Space.com homepage, thanks to SpaceX. Live coverage will begin about 15 minutes before liftoff. You can also view the launch directly through SpaceX and on YouTube.Related: Our X-Ray universe: Amazing images by NASAs Chandra X-Ray ObservatoryThe IXPE satellite will provide astronomers with a brand-new tool to penetrate the mysteries of deep space. The refrigerator-sized satellite is equipped with 3 similar telescopes that will be able to study the polarization of light (meaning which instructions the light particles are scattered) from cosmic sources such as black holes and neutron stars. With IXPEs observations, astronomers will have the ability to study the structure and mechanisms that power these types of enigmatic cosmic things.” IXPE will help us test and fine-tune our current theories of how deep space works,” Martin Weisskopf, the missions principal detective stated during a prelaunch rundown on Tuesday (Dec. 7). “We might even find more amazing theories about these unique things than what weve hypothesized.” Thursdays flight is the 28th Falcon 9 mission for SpaceX up until now in 2021. The flight also marks the second rocket launch from the Cape today. Early Tuesday morning (Dec. 7), an Atlas V blasted off from an adjacent launch pad, carrying a mix of payloads into space for the U.S. government.Related: SpaceXs most-flown Falcon 9 rocket is a sooty veteran after 10 launchesA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASAs Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) space telescope stands at the launch pad prior to a Dec. 9, 2021, flight chance. (Image credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky) Thursdays pre-dawn flight will continue a hectic month here on the Space Coast, with as numerous as five rocket launches on the calendar for December. Those launches consist of 4 Falcon 9s and one United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V. So far, 2 of the 5 have actually blasted off without a hitch.To guarantee that Thursdays Falcon 9 rocket is all set to fly, SpaceX briefly fired up the nine Merlin 1D engines on the rockets first stage on Saturday (Dec. 4). The test, called a fixed fire, is a regular part of SpaceXs prelaunch procedures and helps engineers understand that the rocket is all set to fly. SpaceX then confirmed that everything was “go” for launch on Thursday early morning with a 2.5-hour window. An illustration of the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft, which will introduce on a SpaceX Falcon 9. (Image credit: NASA) After the rocket successfully carries the IXPE satellite into space, its first phase will touch down on SpaceXs drone ship, “Just Read the Instructions.” Forecasters at the 45th Space Delta have actually said that theres a 80% opportunity of favorable conditions for liftoff Thursday morning, with the main issues being thick clouds and cumulus clouds. If essential, there is a backup attempt slated for Friday, with conditions likewise at 80% “go.” Follow Amy Thompson on Twitter @astrogingersnap. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook..
You can also see the launch straight by means of SpaceX and on YouTube.Related: Our X-Ray universe: Amazing images by NASAs Chandra X-Ray ObservatoryThe IXPE satellite will supply astronomers with a brand-new tool to probe the secrets of the universe. Early Tuesday morning (Dec. 7), an Atlas V blasted off from a nearby launch pad, bring a mix of payloads into space for the U.S. government.Related: SpaceXs most-flown Falcon 9 rocket is a sooty veteran after 10 launchesA SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASAs Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) area telescope stands at the launch pad prior to a Dec. 9, 2021, flight chance. Those launches consist of 4 Falcon 9s and one United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V. An illustration of the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft, which will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9.