X-ray experiment set for 15-minute flight to space to study supernova remnants

A NASA funded sounding rocket mission is all set to make a short trip to space to test new technologies and collect new information from remains of an exploded star

The experiment is going to be launched from the White Sands Missile Range.

Sounding rockets don't achieve orbit, but instead send their cargo above the atmosphere for a short time before being pulled back to Earth by gravity.

During its brief time in space, Micro-X will collect X-rays to study a massive bubble of material left behind from the death of a massive star 11,000 light years away from Earth.

One of the most studied objects in the sky is called Cas A.

Cosmic rays come out of a supernova.

The Micro-X mission has a resolution that is 50 times higher than existing observatories. The X-ray energy spectrum can reveal the composition, history, and state of the gas and ejected debris from the explosion.

Testing the new detector technologies for future missions is one of the goals of Micro-X. The ATHENA mission may be affected by the plans of the European Space Agency to scale back the project.

Micro-X will descend to the ground if the flight goes well. The project has the potential to do interesting science. We hope to get it back and fly it again.

You can follow Micro-X through the photo sharing app.

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