This is the moment NASA launches their Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer space telescopes to investigate mysterious objects in the universe such as supernova remnants and black holes.

In a statement on 9th December, NASA said: “NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission launched at 1am EST Thursday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

“A joint effort with the Italian Space Agency, the IXPE observatory is NASA’s first mission dedicated to measuring the polarization of X-rays from the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe – supernova remnants, supermassive black holes, and dozens of other high-energy objects.

Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, said: “IXPE represents another extraordinary first. Together with our partners in Italy and around the world, we’ve added a new space observatory to our fleet that will shape our understanding of the universe for years to come.

“Each NASA spacecraft is carefully chosen to target brand new observations enabling new science, and IXPE is going to show us the violent universe around us, such as exploding stars and the black holes at the centre of galaxies, in ways we’ve never been able to see it.”

Zurbuchen said “the rocket performed as expected, with spacecraft separation taking place 33 minutes into flight”.

About one minute later, the spacecraft “unfurled its solar arrays”.

The IXPE entered its orbit around Earth’s equator at an altitude of around 372 miles. About 40 minutes after launch, mission operators received the first spacecraft telemetry data.

Martin Weisskopf, who came up with the spacecraft concept and has carried out important experiments in X-ray astronomy since the 1970s, said: “It is an indescribable feeling to see something you’ve worked on for decades become real and launch into space.”

Weisskopf, who is the IXPE principal investigator at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama, added: “This is just the beginning for IXPE. We have much work ahead, but tonight we celebrate!”

NASA said in the statement: “IXPE carries three state-of-the-art space telescopes with special polarization-sensitive detectors. Polarization is a property of light that holds clues to the environment from which the light originates.

“The new mission builds on and complements the scientific discoveries of other telescopes, including the Chandra X-ray Observatory, NASA’s flagship X-ray telescope. First light operations are scheduled to begin in January.

“NASA Marshall manages the IXPE mission for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate as a project of the NASA’s Explorers Program. IXPE is an international collaboration between NASA, the Italian Space Agency, along with partners and providers in 12 other countries.”