NASA and Italy’s space agency have agreed to jointly launch a mission that will explore cosmic X-rays beginning in 2020.

Robert Lightfoot, acting administrator of NASA, and Roberto Battiston, president of the Italian space agency, signed an agreement at the Paris Air Show to establish the terms of cooperation under the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer mission, NASA said Tuesday.

The IXPE mission aims to deploy three telescope systems designed to measure the polarization of cosmic X-rays and help both agencies discover their origins as well as interactions with matter and gravity in space.

NASA will contribute the X-ray telescopes and facilities to support end-to-end X-ray calibration and science operations under the program.

Italy’s space agency will provide three polarization-sensitive X-ray detectors that will serve as IXPE’s “eyes” as well as access to the agency’s equatorial ground station in Malindi, Kenya.

Ball Aerospace & Technologies has been selected to conduct spacecraft and mission integration efforts for the mission and will collaborate with the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics to operate the flight system.

Other IXPE program partners include the Stanford University, McGill University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Education Department looks for a director of information assurance services and chief information security officer to manage the availability, privacy, confidentiality, and integrity of its data and information resources.

A USAJobs notice published June 7 says the incumbent will also serve as principal adviser to the department chief information and deputy CIO.

The director will be responsible for the implementation and compliance of the Federal Information Security Management Act and E-Government Act as well as oversee policies, procedures, guidance and technologies related to cybersecurity efforts at the department.

The selected candidate will also advise department officials on cybersecurity policies and procedures; integrate the department’s cyber, information security and telecommunications programs; and implement internal and external cybersecurity policy programs.

Additionally, the incumbent will create guidelines for computer incident response on information technology systems as well as exchange IT security ideas with other strategic leaders across the federal government.

The application period is open through June 28.

Tom Sullivan, acting chief of the Federal Communications Commission‘s International Bureau, will officially take over the post after his appointment by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai.

“He brings a tremendous depth and breadth of experience to the job, and I know that he can be counted on to represent our country well in our interactions with other countries and in managing our communications needs in space,” Pai said in a statement issued Tuesday.

Sullivan, who has led the International Bureau in an acting capacity since the transition into the new administration, has served as an associate chief and chief of staff at the bureau from March 2010 to January this year.

The International Bureau serves to represent FCC internationally and is in charge of licensing and policy for overseas telecommunications and satellite programs.

NASA has launched a system that works to automate the process for transferring NASA-patented technology to industry.

The Automated Technology Licensing Application System is designed to help companies apply for any of the more than 1,400 NASA technologies that are currently available for licensing, the agency said Tuesday.

ATLAS works to collect basic information from applicants as well as email updates on the application status and any required actions.

Steve Jurczyk, associate administrator of NASA’s space technology mission directorate, said the agency’s technology transfer program seeks to help create jobs, support U.S. economic competitiveness and introduce new products and services to market.

NASA’s searchable patent portfolio includes technologies in various fields such aeronautics, propulsion, electronics, materials, sensors, instrumentation and other disciplines.