NASA has chosen SpaceX, a company owned by Elon Musk, to provide the X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) imaging service, which will help astronomers better understand cosmic phenomena such as black holes and neutron stars.
NASA’s total cost of launching IXPE is about $ 50.3 million, including the launch service and other mission-related costs, the US Space Agency said.
IXPE measures X-ray polarized objects, such as black holes and neutron stars, to better understand these types of cosmic phenomena and harsh environments.
NASA said the mission was currently targeted for launch in April 2021 on the Falcon 9 rocket from the 39A launch complex in Florida.
IXPE will fly three space telescopes with sensitive detectors capable of measuring cosmic X-rays, allowing scientists to answer fundamental questions about these turbulent environments Where gravity, electricity and magnetic fields are located within their boundaries.
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