NASA to Launch a Black Hole Hunter

Artist's concept of NuSTAR on orbit that shows its 10- meter mast that separates the optics modules (right) from the detectors in the focal plane (left). (NASA)

The Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL rocket with NASA's NuSTAR spacecraft is attached to the L-1011 carrier aircraft known as "Stargazer," June 2, 2012. (NASA)

This image comparison demonstrates NuSTAR's improved ability to focus high-energy X-ray light into sharp images. (NASA)

Technicians install one half of the payload fairing over the NuSTAR spacecraft as they continue to process the spacecraft and its Pegasus rocket for launch, May 22, 2012. (NASA)

In a clean room at Vandenberg Air Force Base's processing facility in California, a technician conducts a solar array illumination test on NASA's NuSTAR spacecraft, February 2, 2012. (NASA)

NuSTAR has a complex set of mirrors, or optics, that will help it see high-energy X-ray light in greater detail than ever before. These images show different views of one of two optic units onboard NuSTAR. (NASA)