ISRO's XPoSat launch at 9:10 am will make India the second country, after the US, to deploy an observatory dedicated to studying black holes.
XPoSat Launch by ISRO: On January 1, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) initiated its inaugural polarimetry mission, the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat). This marks India's first dedicated polarimetry mission aimed at examining the dynamics of intense astronomical X-ray sources under extreme conditions.
The X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSAT) is set to provide valuable insights into celestial entities like black holes, marking the 60th launch in the PSLV rocket series.
The spacecraft is ferrying the main payload XPoSat, along with 10 other satellites, to a low Earth orbit. The primary payload, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), is designed to measure the degree and angle of polarization in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons originating from astronomical sources. Additionally, the XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload will provide spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.
As part of the PSLV-C58 mission, four Indian space startups will launch their payloads to demonstrate microsatellite subsystems, satellite orbit control thrusters, and radiation shield coating for satellites.
Key Mission Highlights:
The 9:10 am launch of the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) will establish India as the second country, following the US, to have an observatory dedicated to studying black holes.
XPoSAT will utilize X-ray photons and their polarization to investigate the radiation emanating from the vicinity of black holes and neutron stars.
Using X-ray photons and their polarization, XPoSAT will contribute to the examination of radiation from the vicinity of black holes and neutron stars.
The mission involves conducting extensive spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources. It will also perform polarization and spectroscopic assessments of X-ray emissions from cosmic sources through the POLIX and XSPECT payloads.
Following liftoff, the 44.4-meter-tall PSLV rocket will deploy the primary satellite into a 650 km Low Earth Orbit approximately 21 minutes after launch.
Subsequently, scientists will lower the satellite's altitude to around 350 km by restarting the fourth stage of the vehicle for the execution of the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) experiment.
The anticipated mission lifespan is around 5 years, with XPoSat expected to yield significant benefits for the global astronomy community.
Black Holes originate from the gravitational collapse of dying stars. They possess the most powerful gravitational force in the universe, while neutron stars exhibit the highest densities.
The cost of the XPoSat satellite is approximately Rs 250 crore (around $30 million), whereas the NASA IXPE, launched in 2021, incurred a cost of approximately $188 million.
