In a momentous start to the year, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The lift-off took place at 9:10 am, marking ISRO’s first space mission of 2024.
Key Highlights:
•Mission Success: The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C58) executed the launch flawlessly, placing the XPoSat satellite precisely into its intended orbit of 650 km with a 6-degree inclination.
•Specialized Astronomy Observatory: With the launch of XPoSat, India becomes the second country in the world, after the United States, to send a dedicated scientific satellite for space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources.
•Proud Moment: Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Dr. Jitendra Singh, expressed pride in ISRO’s accomplishment. He mentioned, “ISRO begins 2024 in Style! Proud to be associated with the Department of Space at a time when Team ISRO continues to accomplish one success after the other.”
•Payloads: The XPoSat satellite carries two primary payloads – POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing). These payloads will enable the study of the orientation of vibration in light waves, aiding in understanding the radiation mechanism and geometry of celestial sources.
•Significance of the Mission: Over its planned five-year lifespan, XPoSat will contribute valuable data on the behavior of black holes and neutron stars, enhancing our understanding of these cosmic phenomena.
•Upcoming ISRO Missions: Following XPoSat, ISRO has an action-packed January, with plans to insert the Aditya L1 solar probe into orbit around the Lagrangian point (L1) and launch the INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite.
ISRO’s successful launch of XPoSat adds another feather to its cap, reinforcing India’s position in the global space exploration community. The mission exemplifies the country’s commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and technology in the field of astronomy and astrophysics.
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