The Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE): Technical overview IV

Ramsey, B. D.; Attina, P.; Baldini, L.; Barbanera, M.; Baumgartner, W. H.; Bellazzini, R.; Bladt, J.; Bongiorno, S. D.; Brez, A.; Castellano, S.; Carpentiero, R.; Castronuovo, M.; Cavalli, L.; Cavazutti, E.; Damico, F.; Citraro, S.; Costa, E.; Deininger, W. D.; Dalba, E.; Delmonte, E.; Dietz, K. L.; Di Lalla, N.; Di Marco, A.; Di Persio, G.; Donnarumma, I.; Fabiani, S.; Ferrazzoli, R.; Footdale, J.; Head, M.; Kalinowski, W.; Kolodziejczak, J. J.; Latronico, L.; Lefevre, C.; Lorenzi, P.; Lucchesi, L.; Maldera, S.; Manfreda, A.; Mangravati, E.; Marshall, H. L.; Matt, G.; Minuti, M.; Mize, R.; Muleri, F.; Nasimi, H.; Negri, B.; Nuti, A.; Odell, S.; Orsini, L.; Osborne, D.; Pentz, C.; Pilia, M.; Perri, M.; Pesce-Rollins, M.; Peterson, C.; Pinchera, M.; Puccetti, S.; Rankin, J.; Ratheesh, A.; Romani, R. W.; Sarra, P.; Santoli, F.; Sciortino, A.; Schroeder, C.; Sgro, C.; Soffitta, P.; Spandre, G.; Tennant, A.; Tobia, A.; Thomas, N. E.; Trois, A.; Vimercati, M.; Wedmore, J.; Weisskopf, M. C.; Xie, F.; Zanetti, F.; Alexander, C.; Allen, D. Z.; Amici, F.; Andersen, J.; Antonelli, A.; Antoniak, S.; Bachetti, M.; Baggett, R. M.; Bonino, R.; Boree, C.; Borotto, F.; Breeding, S.; Brienza, D.; Byggott, H. K.; Caporale, C.; Cardelli, C.; Ceccanti, M.; Centrone, M.; Dolan, D.; Evangelista, Y.; Ferrant, K.; Ferrie, M.; Forsyth, B.; Foster, M.; Garelick, B.; Gunji, S.; Gurnee, E.; Hibbard, G.; Johnson, S.; Kelly, E.; Kilaru, K.; La Monaca, F.; Le Roy, S.; Lofredo, P.; Maddox, T.; Magazzu, G.; Marengo, M.; Marrocchesi, A.; Massaro, F.; Mauger, D.; Mccracken, J.; Mceachen, M.; Mereu, P.; Mitchell, S.; Mitsuishi, I.; Morbidini, A.; Mosti, F.; Nguyen, T.; Negro, M.; Nitschke, I.; Onizuka, M.; Oppedisano, C.; Pacheco, R.; Paggi, A.; Painter, W.; Pavelitz, S. D.; Piazzolla, R.; Profeti, A.; Ranganathan, J.; Reedy, L.; Root, N.; Rubini, A.; Ruswick, S.; Sanchez, J.; Scalise, E.; Seek, T.; Sosdian, K.; Speegle, C. O.; Tamagawa, T.; Tardiola, M.; Valerie, R.; Walden, A. L.; Weddendorf, B.; Welch, D.

doi:10.1117/12.2595302

Scheduled to launch in late 2021 the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is a Small Explorer Mission designed to open up a new window of investigation-X-ray polarimetry. The IXPE observatory features 3 identical telescope each consisting of a mirror module assembly with a polarization-sensitive imaging x-ray detector at its focus. An extending beam, deployed on orbit provides the necessary 4 m focal length. The payload sits atop a 3-Axis stabilized spacecraft which among other things provides power, attitude determination and control, commanding, and telemetry to the ground. During its 2-year baseline mission, IXPE will conduct precise polarimetry for samples of multiple categories of x-ray sources, with follow-on observations of selected targets. IXPE is a partnership between NASA and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).