As part of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle’s (PSLV) C58 mission, ISRO successfully launched its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite, or XPoSat, today, contributing to the advancement of our understanding of celestial objects, especially black holes.
The mission’s launch, according to ISRO chief S Somanath, was a “success”.
“PSLV completed yet another successful mission on January 1, 2024. The primary satellite, XPoSat, has been launched by PSLV-C58 into the planned orbit of 650 km with a 6-degree inclination, according to Mr. Somanath.
“The new year has begun with the launch of the PSLV, and we will have an exciting time ahead. This year has just begun, and we will have many more launches. Besides, 2024 is going to be the year of Mission Gaganyaan,” he added.
The 44.4-meter tall PSLV rocket ascended into the sky from the first launch pad in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota at 9:10 am. The liftoff was met with thunderous applause from a multitude of spectators who gathered at the spaceport situated 135 km east of Chennai.
The XPoSat has been placed into a 650 Km Low Earth Orbit, poised to embark on its mission to investigate the polarisation of intense X-ray sources in space.
POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-Rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) make up the main payload of XPoSat. The Raman Research Institute’s POLIX is used to measure polarimetry parameters, and the UR Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru’s XSPECT is used for timing and X-ray spectroscopy. With an anticipated five-year mission lifespan, there will be more time for data collection and scientific observations.
