By observing black holes, IXPE will help scientists gain more insight and expand human knowledge.
Rocket SpaceX Falcon 9 glides with satellite Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) milik NASA. First announced in 2017, IXPE is the first satellite capable of measuring the polarization of X-rays emanating from cosmic sources, such as black holes and neutron stars.
The refrigerator-sized satellite has three telescopes that can track and measure direction, time of arrival, energy and light polarization. When data from all of those telescopes are combined, NASA can form images that give us more insight into how these mysterious celestial bodies – which emit X-rays – work. For example, they hope to give us a more holistic view of the structure of the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant with a rapidly rotating neutron star at its center.
By observing black holes, IXPE will help scientists gain more insight and expand human knowledge in the still unknown regions of outer space. This could provide clues as to why they spin and how they devour cosmic matter, though it could also lead to new discoveries.
Martin Weisskopf, the mission’s principal investigator said “IXPE will help us test and refine our current theory of how the universe works. We might even find a more interesting theory about this exotic object than we hypothesized.”
Reported from Engadget (10/12), SpaceX used a Falcon 9 rocket from a previous mission for this launch. If all goes well, the first stage of the rocket will land on the ship drone company after transporting IXPE into space.
Liftoff! pic.twitter.com/v9VAb8UITL
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 9, 2021
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