Watch NASAs IXPE Observatory Launch Into Space Official Live Broadcast

We re sending a new pair of Xray eyes into the universe NASA s Imaging Xray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is our first satellite dedicated to measuring the polarization of Xrays. Polarized light is made up of electric fields that vibrate in a single directionand IXPE s stateoftheart Xray vision will help scientists study the spin of black holes, the magnetic fields of pulsars, and other cosmic phenomena. IXPE is targeted to launch at 1:00 a. m. EST, Dec. 9 (06:00 UTC), aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.