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NASA’S NEWEST X-RAY observatory has rocketed into orbit in a bid to shed light on exploded stars, black holes and other violent high-energy events unfolding across the universe.
SpaceX launched the spacecraft on its mission from the Kennedy Space Centre.
It is called IXPE, short for Imaging X-ray Polarisation Explorer.
Scientists said the observatory – actually three telescopes in one – will unveil the most dramatic and extreme parts of the universe as never before.
“IXPE is going to open a new window on the X-ray sky,” said Brian Ramsey, Nasa’s deputy principal scientist. Operations should begin next month.
Nasa is partnering with the Italian Space Agency on the project.
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Sounds awesome. It will be really interesting to see what new discoveries lie ahead.
@Sean May: absolutely. exciting stuff lays ahead with cutting edge tech being launched into space
@HarveyLemonade:
JWST seems a go for 22nd, more excited to watch that than new Matrix.
@Ixtrix Net: ya hope all goes well,it takes weeks to open up and then another few months calibrating it.Looking like 5-6 months before it’s in operation
@Joe Gorham:
yeah, expected is about 6 months from launch before actual usable data being sent. it needs about a month to get to orbit range, and a few to power, calibrate and start reading
Given Climate Change and the Pandemic for starters, what is the point of spending all of these billions on Space travel. It is not so much the money that concerns me, it is more the Scientists working in that area. Very Very clever people who are dedicating their lives to the future of this planet by exploring distant planets, when we may not have a planet to live on in 50years. Could they not lend a hand to the vaccine scientists to get us out of this mess and do something worthwhile for now.
have your say