IXPE
NASA satellite of the Explorer program / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, commonly known as IXPE or SMEX-14, is a space observatory with three identical telescopes designed to measure the polarization of cosmic X-rays of black holes, neutron stars, and pulsars.[6] The observatory, which was launched on 9 December 2021, is an international collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). It is part of NASA's Explorers program, which designs low-cost spacecraft to study heliophysics and astrophysics.
Names | Explorer 97 IXPE SMEX-14 |
---|---|
Mission type | X-ray astronomy satellite |
Operator | NASA, ASI |
COSPAR ID | 2021-121A |
SATCAT no. | 49954 |
Website | ixpe asi.it/ixpe |
Mission duration | 5 years (planned) 2 years, 4 months and 1 day (in progress) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | Explorer XCVII |
Spacecraft type | Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer |
Bus | BCP-100 |
Manufacturer | Ball Aerospace & Technologies OHB Italia |
Launch mass | 330 kg (730 lb)[1] |
Payload mass | 170 kg (370 lb) |
Dimensions | 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) in diameter and 5.2 m (17 ft) tall, fully extended Solar array: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in) fully deployed |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 9 December 2021, 06:00 UTC[2] |
Rocket | Falcon 9, B1061.5 |
Launch site | Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A |
Contractor | SpaceX |
Entered service | 10 January 2022[3] |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Low Earth orbit |
Perigee altitude | 540 km (340 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 540 km (340 mi) |
Inclination | 0.20° |
Period | 90.00 minutes |
Main telescope | |
Type | Three-mirror |
Focal length | 4 m[4] |
Wavelengths | X-ray |
Transponders | |
Band | S-band[5] |
IXPE mission logo Explorers Program |
The mission will study exotic astronomical objects and permit mapping of the magnetic fields of black holes, neutron stars, pulsars, supernova remnants, magnetars, quasars, and active galactic nuclei. The high-energy X-ray radiation from these objects' surrounding environment can be polarized – oscillating in a particular direction. Studying the polarization of X-rays reveals the physics of these objects and can provide insights into the high-temperature environments where they are created.[7]