1. Isro commenced 2024 with the launch of PSLV on its 60th flight, carrying the XPoSat mission into space.
2. The successful lift-off took place at 9:10 am IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
3. This mission aims to explore enigmatic phenomena, including black holes, and represents India’s inaugural venture into polarimetry.
New Delhi, Jan 01: As 2024 dawned, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) electrified the skies with the launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on its 60th flight, carrying the XPoSat mission into space. The successful lift-off occurred at 9:10 am IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, marking a dynamic beginning to the new year.
Isro’s Star Player: PSLV
Renowned as India’s most successful booster, the PSLV once again showcased its reliability by propelling the XPoSat satellite into its designated orbit around Earth. This mission aims to unravel the mysteries of some of the universe’s most perplexing phenomena, with a special focus on black holes.
Exploring the World of Polarimetry
The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) represents India’s inaugural foray into polarimetry, a field dedicated to studying the polarization of X-rays emitted by celestial objects. Polarimetry provides unique insights into the dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources, such as black holes and neutron stars, surpassing the capabilities of traditional imaging and spectroscopy.
Objectives and Significance
Isro’s polarimetry mission intends to analyze the polarization of X-rays emitted by celestial sources, offering valuable information about magnetic fields, geometry, and emission mechanisms associated with high-energy objects. XPoSat stands as Isro’s testament to venturing into purely scientific missions, exploring the unknown and contributing significantly to the nation’s space exploration efforts.
POLIX: Measuring Polarization
The primary payload, POLIX, developed by the Raman Research Institute in collaboration with the U R Rao Satellite Centre, is tasked with measuring the degree and angle of polarization in the medium X-ray energy range. The five-year mission lifespan of POLIX aims to observe approximately 40 bright astronomical sources.
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XSPECT: Timing and Spectroscopy
XSPECT, another scientific payload, provides fast timing and high spectroscopic resolution in soft X-rays. Its mission includes the long-term monitoring of spectral state changes and simultaneous monitoring of soft X-ray emissions from various celestial bodies.
Ingenious Use of Fourth Stage: POEM
Isro has ingeniously repurposed the fourth stage of the PSLV-C58 by incorporating 10 different experiments, a departure from the traditional approach where the fourth stage would disintegrate in Low Earth Orbit. The innovative move involves restarting the fourth stage twice to lower its orbit for the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) to become operational.
Future Endeavors in 2024
The impactful launch sets the tone for Isro’s ambitious projects in 2024, including the Gaganyaan mission and the joint venture with Nasa named Nisar. As Isro continues to script its story in space, this roaring start symbolizes a year filled with groundbreaking explorations and scientific achievements.
