The 20th year of the Chandra X-ray Telescope was celebrated at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's planetarium. The speakers were retired Astronaut Eileen Collins, Astrophysicist at the "Chandra X-ray Center Aneta Siemiginowska, "Senior Astrophysicist at the Chandra X-ray center Harvey Tananbaum, and Chandra Project Scientist Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The panel discussion was moderated by Kim Kowal Arcand, "Visualizaton Lead at the Chandra X-ray Center.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

Martin Weisskopf, IXPE principal investigator, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, participates in a prelaunch news conference for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec. 7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

A prelaunch news conference for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft is held on Dec. 7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants from left are Greg Harland, moderator, NASA communications; Martin Weisskopf, IXPE principal investigator, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center; Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general manager, civil space, Ball Aerospace; Tim Dunn, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services Program; Julianna Scheiman, director, civil satellite missions, SpaceX; Julianna Scheiman, director, civil satellite missions, SpaceX; and Mike McAleenan, 45th Weather Squadron, Space Launch Delta 45. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

The annual Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Dinner was held at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Davidson Center on October 26, 2017 with Keynote speaker General John Hyten, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command. Emcee was Mark Larson of Mark Larson Media Services, Inc. Dr. Wernher Von Braun Memorial Scholarships were presented to 8 college students by the National Space Club. Educator of the Year was awarded to Tammy Thorpe; Community Service award was presented to Huntsville, Al. Mayor Tommy Battle. The Communications Award was presented to retired astronaut Dr. Mike Massimino. The Distinguished Science Award was presented to Dr. Martin Weisskopf. The Astronautics Engineer Award was presented to Douglas R. Cooke. The Dr. Wernher Von Braun Space Flight Trophy was presented to Robert Lightfoot.

Greg Harland, NASA Communications, moderates a prelaunch news conference for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec. 7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

A payload briefing for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft is held on Dec.7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants from left are Karen Fox, moderator, NASA Communications; Brian Ramsey, deputy principal investigator, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center; Elisabetta Cavazzuti, ASI IXPE program manager, Italian Space Agency; Luca Baldini, Italian co-principal investigator, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center; and MacKenzie Ferrie, IXPE program manager, Ball Aerospace. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

Elisabetta Cavazzuti, ASI IXPE program manager, Italian Space Agency, participates in a payload briefing for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec.7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

Karen Fox, NASA Communications, moderates a payload briefing for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec.7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

Makenzie Lystrup, vice president and general manager, civil space, Ball Aerospace, participates in a prelaunch news conference for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec. 7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

Mike McAleenan, 45th Weather Squadron, Space Launch Delta 45, participates in a prelaunch news conference for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec. 7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

A payload briefing for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft is held on Dec.7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants from left are Karen Fox, moderator, NASA Communications; Brian Ramsey, deputy principal investigator, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center; Elisabetta Cavazzuti, ASI IXPE program manager, Italian Space Agency; Luca Baldini, Italian co-principal investigator, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center; and MacKenzie Ferrie, IXPE program manager, Ball Aerospace. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

A payload briefing for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft is held on Dec.7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants from left are Brian Ramsey, deputy principal investigator, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center; Elisabetta Cavazzuti, ASI IXPE program manager, Italian Space Agency; Luca Baldini, Italian co-principal investigator, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center; and MacKenzie Ferrie, IXPE program manager, Ball Aerospace. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

A scale model of NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft is on display during a payload briefing for IXPE on Dec.7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

Luca Baldini, Italian co-principal investigator, National Institute for Nuclear Physics, participates in a payload briefing for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec.7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

Sandra Connelly, deputy associate administrator for science, NASA Headquarters, participates in a prelaunch news conference for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec. 7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

Brian Ramsey, deputy principal investigator, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, participates in a payload briefing for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec.7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

Julianna Scheiman, director, civil satellite missions, SpaceX, participates in a prelaunch news conference for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec. 7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

MacKenzie Ferrie, IXPE program manager, Ball Aerospace, participates in a payload briefing for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec.7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

Tim Dunn, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center, participates in a prelaunch news conference for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft on Dec. 7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.

A payload briefing for NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) spacecraft is held on Dec.7, 2021 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants from left are Elisabetta Cavazzuti, ASI IXPE program manager, Italian Space Agency; and Luca Baldini, Italian co-principal investigator, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. IXPE is scheduled to launch no earlier than 1 a.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 9, on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Complex 39A. NASA’s Launch Services Program is managing this launch. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages the IXPE mission. Ball Aerospace, headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, manages spacecraft operations with support from the University of Colorado at Boulder. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, manages the Explorers Program for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Launch Delta 45 provides range support for this launch. SpaceX is providing the launch vehicle for this mission.