This unaltered story was originally published by U.S. NASA Space Agency.

This unaltered story was originally published by U.S. NASA Space Agency.
URL: https://www.nasa.gov
Content is in public domain.

------------

NASA’s IXPE Rolls out to Launch Pad at Kennedy – Kennedy Space Center

[]

Date: 2021-12-07 00:00:00

NASA’s Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft, atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, rolled out of Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A hangar to the launch pad on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at 12:46 p.m. EST. The rocket and spacecraft are expected to go vertical this evening.

NASA’s first mission dedicated to measuring X-ray polarization, IXPE is targeted to lift off from Kennedy on Thursday at 1 a.m. The launch is managed by NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy.

The IXPE spacecraft includes three space telescopes with sensitive detectors capable of measuring the polarization of cosmic X-rays, allowing scientists to answer fundamental questions about extremely complex environments in space where gravitational, electric, and magnetic fields are at their limits. The project is a collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency.

On Dec. 9, tune in to NASA Television, the NASA app, or the agency’s website for a live broadcast – or stay right here for a live blog to take you through the launch day events.

[END]

[1] Url: https://blogs.nasa.gov/kennedy/2021/12/07/nasas-ixpe-rolls-out-to-launch-pad-at-kennedy/

Published by NASA.Gov

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/nasa/