Sriharikota, India: Marking a historic start to the new year, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C58 mission on January 1, 2024, carrying the XPoSat, India’s first dedicated X-ray astronomy satellite. This momentous launch, held at 9:10 am from the first launch pad at SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota, marks a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey.
The PSLV-C58 mission will place XPoSat into an eastward low inclination orbit, paving the way for groundbreaking research in the field of X-ray astronomy. The mission will be further enhanced by the PS4 stage’s re-ignition, lowering the satellite’s orbit to 350 km and enabling 3-axis stabilized mode for optimal performance of the Orbital Platform (OP) experiments.
XPoSat is a testament to ISRO’s pioneering spirit, being the first Indian satellite dedicated to studying the polarization of X-rays emitted by celestial objects. Equipped with two cutting-edge payloads, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing), XPoSat will delve deeper into the mysteries of the universe.
POLIX, developed by the Raman Research Institute, will measure the polarization of X-rays in the energy band 8-30 keV, while XSPECT, built by the Space Astronomy Group of URSC, will conduct long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources in the 0.8-15 keV range.
This mission marks a significant leap forward for Indian space science, reaffirming ISRO’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of scientific discovery and technological advancement. The successful launch of XPoSat positions India as a leader in X-ray astronomy research, opening doors to a plethora of exciting possibilities for future space exploration endeavors.