The Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) completed its 30-day commissioning. Since IXPE launched on 12/9/21, IXPE mission operations and the MSFC mission support team have successfully completed spacecraft commissioning (s/c) and all s/c subsystems are nominal. In addition, IXPE operations team has successfully completed Payload commissioning (boom deployment), Instrument commissioning (used internal calibration sources to verify performance), and Telescope Commissioning (using celestial targets). IXPE has met all Post-Launch Assessment Review (PLAR) success criteria including the following: evaluation of the in-flight performance of the observatory/operations, demonstration of the project's readiness to begin science operations phase of the life cycle and addressing mission operations/science data analysis activities from launch up through 30-Day Commissioning period.
IXPE has successfully transitioned into science operations and on 1/11/22, IXPE began observing its first official scientific target: Cassiopeia A.
