  X-Ray Polarimetry can be now performed by using a Micro Pattern Gas Chamber
in the focus of a telescope. It requires large area optics for most important
scientific targets. But since the technique is additive a dedicated mission
with a cluster of small telescopes can perform many important measurements and
bridge the 40 year gap between OSO-8 data and future big telescopes such as
XEUS. POLARIX has been conceived as such a pathfinder. It is a Small Satellite
based on the optics of JET-X. Two telescopes are available in flight
configuration and three more can be easily produced starting from the available
superpolished mandrels. We show the capabilities of such a cluster of
telescopes each equipped with a focal plane photoelectric polarimeter and
discuss a few alternative solutions.
