Matthew Nelson
Ball Aerospace has cleared a critical design review for a small explorer mission that will help NASA measure the polarization of cosmic x-rays in space.
The Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer observatory is slated to deploy in 2021 to assist NASA in comprehending fundamental physics of unfamiliar objects in space as part of the Astrophysics Explorer Program, the company said Wednesday.
Ball Aerospace manufactured IXPE’s payload and spacecraft components and carried out testing and integration efforts for the observatory.
IXPE will also carry a Ball Configurable Platform unit during the mission.
“With M-CDR now complete we focus on hardware production, which includes the Ball Configurable Platform, or BCP, small satellite,†said Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general manager of civil space at Ball Aerospace.
