We present Chandra and XMM-Newton X-ray data of NGC 5253 , a local starbursting dwarf elliptical galaxy , in the early stages of a starburst episode .
Contributions to the X-ray emission come from discrete point sources and extended diffuse emission , in the form of what appear to be multiple superbubbles , and smaller bubbles probably associated with individual star clusters . Chandra detects 17 sources within the optical extent of NGC 5253 down to a completeness level corresponding to a luminosity of 1.5 \times 10 ^ { 37 } \mbox { $ { erg~ { } s } ^ { -1 } $ } .
The slope of the point source X-ray luminosity function is -0.54 \pm ^ { 0.21 } _ { 0.16 } , similar to that of other nearby dwarf starburst galaxies .
Several different types of source are detected within the galaxy , including X-ray binaries and the emission associated with star-clusters .

Comparison of the diffuse X-ray emission with the observed H \alpha 
emission shows similarities in their extent .
The best spectral fit to the diffuse emission is obtained with an absorbed , two temperature model giving temperatures for the two gas components of \sim 0.24 \mbox { $ { keV } $ } and \sim 0.75 \mbox { $ { keV } $ } .
The derived parameters of the diffuse X-ray emitting gas are as follows : a total mass of \sim 1.4 \times 10 ^ { 6 } f ^ { 1 / 2 } \mbox { { M } $ { } _ { \odot } $ } , where f is the volume filling factor of the X-ray emitting gas , and a total thermal energy content for the hot X-ray emitting gas of \sim 3.4 \times 10 ^ { 54 } f ^ { 1 / 2 } erg .
The pressure in the diffuse gas is P / k \sim 10 ^ { 6 } f ^ { -1 / 2 } K cm ^ { -3 } .
We find that these values are broadly commensurate with the mass and energy injection from the starburst population .
Analysis of the kinematics of the starburst region suggest that the stellar ejecta contained within it can escape the gravitational potential well of the galaxy , and pollute the surrounding IGM .