The wonders of the cosmos have always fascinated us, and NASA's latest mission, the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), is set to delve deeper into these celestial mysteries. This mission, launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, will investigate some of the most enigmatic objects in the universe.
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NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer or IXPE mission was launched on December 9 from Florida.
IXPE: At a Glance
IXPE is a space observatory situated 600 kilometers above Earth, orbiting around the equator.
This mission is a joint venture between NASA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
IXPE will complement other X-ray telescopes, such as the European Space Agency’s X-ray observatory, XMM-Newton and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.
This is NASA’s first mission dedicated to studying the polarization of X-rays from various types of celestial objects.
IXPE's Mission Objectives
The IXPE mission will investigate some of the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe, including supermassive black holes and supernova remnants.
Its "first-light" target is Cassiopeia A, a supernova remnant that was also the first-light observation for the Chandra observatory.
Mission Duration
The primary mission duration is 2 years. In its first year in space, IXPE is expected to study approximately 40 celestial objects.
IXPE's Instrumentation
IXPE is equipped with 3 telescopes, each hosting a lightweight X-ray mirror and a detector unit.
These telescopes will observe polarized X-rays from neutron stars and supermassive black holes.
Measuring the polarization of the X-rays will help scientists determine where the light originated from and understand the geometry and inner workings of the light source.
Benefits of the IXPE Mission
The polarization measurements from IXPE will help scientists answer key questions about the cosmos, such as:
What causes black holes to spin?
What powers the jets of energetic particles ejected from the region around supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies?
Was the black hole at the center of the Milky Way actively feeding on surrounding material in the past?
What is the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE)?
IXPE is NASA’s mission that aims to explore mysterious objects of the Universe. It was sent to its orbit on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
What will IXPE study?
IXPE mission will study the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe – ranging from supermassive black holes, supernova remnants, and some other high-energy objects.
What is the length of the IXPE mission?
The primary length of the mission is 2 years. In its first year in space, IXPE is expected to study approximately 40 celestial objects.
What are the instruments on IXPE?
It carries 3 telescopes. These telescopes will help in observing polarized X-rays from neutron stars and supermassive black holes.
How will the new IXPE mission help scientists?
Polarization measurements of IXPE will help scientists answer questions about the spinning of black holes, what powers the jets of energetic particles from supermassive black holes, and how pulsars shine so brightly in X-rays.