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X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE)

Falcon 9 Block 5

SpaceX

Launch Status
Success

Weather Forecast During Launch


According to weather officials, there’s a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch.

Mission


IXPE

  • Type: Astrophysics
  • Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
  • Launch Cost: $52,000,000

Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a space observatory tasked with measuring the polarization of cosmic X-rays. This data will help to learn more about objects that emit these X-rays, such as black holes and neutron stars.

IXPE

Location


Launch Complex 39A

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Launch Complex 39A has witnessed the launch of 173 rockets, including 172 orbital launch attempts, while Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA, has been the site for 231 rocket launches.

Launch Complex 39A

Rocket


SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5

Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.

Falcon 9 Block 5

Landing


Core B1061

Booster B1061 last launched 02/23/2024 and has seen 19 successful launches and landings. Booster which launched Crew-1, Crew-2 and IXPE.

Just Read the Instructions – JRTI

Third (Marmac 303) ASDS barge, Just Read the Instructions (JRTI) is currently used to recover Falcon 9 and Heavy boosters in the Altantic Ocean.

Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship – ASDS

An autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) is an ocean-going vessel derived from a deck barge, outfitted with station-keeping engines and a large landing platform. Construction of such ships was commissioned by aerospace company SpaceX to allow for recovery of rocket first-stages at sea for high-velocity missions which do not carry enough fuel to return to the launch site after lofting spacecraft onto an orbital trajectory.

B1061

Agency


SpaceX

Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.

SpaceX
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Ken & Judy O
Ken & Judy O'Neill
2 years ago

Nominal launch coming up .

Don Buchanan
Don Buchanan
2 years ago

Have good one

Michael Scotti
Michael Scotti
2 years ago

Need to update the headquarters location in the description of SpaceX.

Richard Eginton
Richard Eginton
2 years ago

Can anyone tell me the direction, besides up, the rocket will be heading? I’m a photographer and am looking to get a “streak” shot tonight. If it goes due east as the last launch did I’ll change my viewing from Titusville to Port Canaveral area. Thanks for any help you… Read more »

Judy
Judy
2 years ago

Great launch plus web coverage and fantastic deployment of IXPE on its 2 years mission. Nice going SpaceX and NASA.