Photo: Bill Ingalls · Public domain (US government)
Mission
Astrophysics · LEO
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.
What it put in orbit
| Object | Type | Orbit | Globe |
|---|---|---|---|
| IXPE 2021-121A | Payload | 528 × 537 km · 0.2° | Globe |
COSPAR ID 2021-121 (data from GCAT, J. McDowell, CC BY 4.0). Orbits from the CelesTrak satellite catalogue (perigee × apogee, inclination).