The Chandra X-ray Observatory Program conducted its Quarterly Review of mission status on 11/15/23 at the Chandra Operations Control Center in Burlington, MA. Several members of the Chandra team from MSFC attended in-person. The team reviewed talks on the overall …
Chandra Program Conducts Quarterly Review and Biannual Engineering Review Read More »
NASA’s IXPE (Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer) telescope has captured the first polarized X-ray imagery of the supernova remnant SN 1006. Situated some 6,500 light-years from Earth in the Lupus constellation, SN 1006 is all that remains after a titanic explosion, …
IXPE Untangles Theories Surrounding Historic Supernova Remnant Read More »
On 10/23/23, the Astrophysical Journal published online “The Polarized Cosmic Hand: IXPE Observations of PSR B1509−58/MSH 15−52” by Roger W. Romani et al. On 10/27/23, the Astrophysical Journal published online “Magnetic structures and turbulence in SN 1006 revealed with imaging …
Latest Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) Discovery Papers Read More »
NASA Scientist Tony Kim (ST14) was recently profiled on NASA.gov. In Bhutan (Kim is fifth from the top right in the image below), Kim and research partners are identifying rice paddies, estimating crop production, predicting shortages, and gauging the health …
SERVIR Project Manager and NASA Scientist Profiled on NASA.gov Read More »
Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) data have been used to examine the pulsar wind nebula known as MSH 15-52. Pulsar wind nebulae are clouds of energetic particles blown away from dead, collapsed stars. In 2001, …
X-ray Telescopes Reveal the “Bones” of a Ghostly Cosmic Hand Read More »
On 11/2/23, the Chandra Program’s Flight Director Board approved the Normal Sun Offset Flight Software Patch. This patch will change the spacecraft attitude an intermediate saving action, Normal Sun Mode, from 90 degrees to 160 degrees. This will prevent longer …
Chandra Flight Director’s Board approves Normal Sun Offset Flight Software Patch Read More »
On 10/28/23, Astrophysics Branch scientists Stephen Bongiorno and Lynnie Saade represented Chandra at the 2023 Huntsville STEAMfest NASA booth. The yearly festival, held this year for the third time, is designed to engage students and their families on the topics …
Chandra Exhibit Inspires Families at Huntsville STEAMfest 2023 Read More »
On 9/6/23, Marshall’s Chandra X-ray Observatory team supported the “Education Day” game for the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Huntsville’s minor league baseball team. The team shared information about Chandra and high energy astrophysics and handed out Chandra bookmarks and activity …
Marshall Chandra Team Supports Trash Panda’s “Education Day” Game Read More »
Launched in 1999, the Chandra X-ray Observatory began its 25th year in orbit on July 23, 2023. Originally a 3 year mission (with a 5 year goal), continuous engineering and science efforts are ongoing to ensure Chandra’s longevity. Largest among …
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Engineering Technicians John Hood, Amy Meekham, and Mark Sloan were featured on the Small Steps, Giant Leaps podcast where they discussed details of their work on the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer. A joint effort between …
