IXPE launched in December 2021 to observe polarized X-rays from extreme objects such as neutron stars and stellar and supermassive black holes.
The Falcon 9 booster that flew FM15 previously supported the launches of Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, one Starlink mission, Transporter-4, and Transporter-5.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster on Transporter-5 previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, one Starlink mission, and Transporter-4.
The Falcon 9 first stage booster used on Transporter-4 previously supported the Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, and one Starlink mission.
NASA’s Imaging X‑Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft built by Ball Aerospace launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) on 2021-12-09.
NASA selected SpaceX in 2019 to launch IXPE on a Falcon 9 from Florida.
SpaceX bid $50,300,000 to launch IXPE.
At an estimated mass of 325 kg, IXPE is the smallest dedicated payload launched on a Falcon 9.
IXPE is a Small Explorer (SMEX) mission with a total cost including launch of $214,000,000.
The Falcon 9 booster that launched IXPE previously launched the Crew-1 and Crew-2 commercial crew missions, the SXM-8 communications satellite, and the CRS-23 cargo mission.
The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) satellite is set to launch on 2021-12-09 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Florida.
Contract values for those NASA science launches have varied from $50,300,000 for IXPE to $117,000,000 for Psyche.
All three of the previously awarded NASA science mission launches (DART, IXPE, and PACE) will use Falcon 9 rockets.
The IXPE spacecraft was originally designed to launch on Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL for a zero-degree-inclination orbit over 500 km.
NASA awarded a contract to SpaceX in July 2019 for the IXPE launch on Falcon 9, replacing the originally planned Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL.
IXPE was selected in 2017 as part of NASA’s Explorers program of small astrophysics missions.
Work on IXPE’s X-ray mirror modules at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
NASA had planned to launch IXPE in May 2021 on a SpaceX Falcon 9.
Work on IXPE at Marshall Space Flight Center resumed in June following the level 4 restrictions.