Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer

NASA's 14th Small Explorer mission, IXPE deployed three co-aligned telescope modules to measure X-ray polarization from neutron stars, pulsars, black holes, and supernova remnants — a capability no space observatory had offered before.

Reaching the required near-equatorial orbit from Cape Canaveral's 28.5° latitude demanded a significant orbital plane change, making this one of the most constrained payload-to-orbit profiles Falcon 9 had flown for a LEO mission. SpaceX won the launch contract for $50.3 million.