Monday, July 8, 2019

SpaceX Wins Award To Send Probe To Study Black Holes

Hawthorne, California-based SpaceX has scored a $50.3M contract to launch a NASA probe to study black holes and neutron stars. According to NASA, the award covers both launch services and other mission-related costs for the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). NASA explained the IXPE will measure polarized X-rays from objects, such as black holes and neutron stars to better understand these types of cosmic phenomena and extreme environments. The mission is expected to launch from Florida in April of 2021, from the SpaceX Launch Complex 39A. The first image ever of a black hole, captured by NASA telescopes back in April