By Hannah Maginot, NASA
December 10, 2022
Artists representation of IXPE in Earth orbit. Credit: NASA
NASAs Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) lit up the morning sky one year ago as it began its journey into space. The satellite was released on December 9, 2021, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
IXPE is the very first satellite dedicated to determining the polarization of X-rays from a variety of cosmic sources, such as black holes and neutron stars. Prior To IXPE, X-ray polarization was hardly ever determined in space.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with NASAs Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft onboard from Launch Complex 39A, Thursday, December 9, 2021, at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The IXPE spacecraft is the very first satellite dedicated to determining the polarization of X-rays from a range of cosmic sources, such as black holes and neutron stars.
Heres a look at some of IXPEs accomplishments in its very first year of operation:
IXPE is the first satellite devoted to measuring the polarization of X-rays from a range of cosmic sources, such as black holes and neutron stars. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with NASAs Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft onboard from Launch Complex 39A, Thursday, December 9, 2021, at NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The IXPE spacecraft is the first satellite dedicated to determining the polarization of X-rays from a variety of cosmic sources, such as black holes and neutron stars.
For IXPE, things are just starting. Its standard mission period is 2 years, so with a minimum of another year of exploration to go, the satellite is poised to make more amazing discoveries about the intricacies of X-ray polarization. Delighted very first anniversary, IXPE!
