The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) started off the New Year in a remarkable manner. They successfully launched their launch vehicle PSLV-C58. This launch vehicle flawlessly placed ISRO’s pioneering polarimetry mission XPoSat into a highly accurate circular orbit of 650 km during a 21-minute flight on Monday morning.
“ISRO begins 2024 in Style! Successful launch of PSLV-C58 XPoSat Mission. Proud to be associated with the Department of Space at a time when Team ISRO continues to accomplish one success after the other, with the personal intervention and patronage from PM Narendra Modi,” Union Minister of State for Department of Space Dr Jitendra Singh said.
ISRO XPoSat Mission page: https://www.isro.gov.in/XPoSat.html
After placing XPoSat into its designated orbit, the fourth stage of the launch vehicle was subsequently activated twice to lower it to a 350 km orbit. This specific orbit will serve as an advantageous platform for conducting various experiments. By responsibly disposing of any remaining fuel, the platform can ultimately be safely reentered into the atmosphere upon accomplishing its mission, which spans approximately one month. The decisions were taken to ensure that successful implementation of all the stages are done.
XPoSat will be established as the third space-based observatory in our country, following the successful deployment of the solar mission Aditya-L1 and AstroSat that happened in 2015. Remarkably, it holds the distinction of being the premier space mission in our nation solely focused on investigating the polarization of cosmic X-rays, and globally, it stands as the second of its kind.
Specifications
Instruments:
- POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays):
- Developed by Raman Research Institute (RRI)
- Mass: 125 kg (275 lb)
- Dimensions: 65x65x60 cm (25x25x23 in)
- Power consumption: 80 W
- Measures high-energy X-rays (8-30 keV)
- Uses collimator to restrict field of view
- Requires XPoSat to spin at 0.5 to 5 rpm
- XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing):
- Developed by Space Astronomy Group of URSC
- Mass: 35 kg (77 lb)
- Dimensions: 45x30x28 cm (18x12x11 in)
- Power consumption: 35 W
- Measures soft X-rays (0.8-15 keV)
- Provides spectral and timing information
Conclusion
In conclusion, the successful launch and early operations of XPoSat mark a significant milestone for India’s space program, showcasing its growing ambitions and capabilities. With its unique capabilities, XPoSat promises to contribute groundbreaking discoveries, not only for Indian scientists but for the global astronomical community. The journey has just begun, and as XPoSat continues its dance among the stars, we can expect a symphony of revelations echoing back to Earth, forever changing our perspective on the cosmos.