India Launches XPoSat space mission
Sriharikota, India — In a groundbreaking mission, India’s space agency, ISRO, has launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), marking the country’s first foray into X-ray astronomy. The satellite, part of the ambitious India XpoSat space mission, aims to conduct in-depth research on cosmic X-ray sources, including black holes.
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Launched from the Sriharikota spaceport at 09:10 local time on Monday, the XPoSat is only the second mission of its kind globally, following NASA’s launch in 2021. ISRO Chairperson S Somanath expressed excitement, stating the mission is geared towards advancing scientists’ understanding of black holes.
A black hole, a gravitational phenomenon where matter collapses in on itself, remains a mysterious cosmic entity. The XPoSat, with an estimated lifespan of five years and a cost of 250 million rupees, will delve into the complexities of black holes and other celestial phenomena.
The satellite’s primary instruments, POLIX and XSPECT, will enable observations in the 8-30 keV energy band and long-term monitoring of spectral state changes in continuum emission, respectively.
This achievement comes on the heels of ISRO’s successful Moon mission, Chandrayaan-3, and the launch of Aditya-L1, its first solar observatory. ISRO has an ambitious 2024 ahead, with plans for the Gaganyaan mission, aiming to send three astronauts into low-Earth orbit.
The XPoSat mission is part of a larger launch, PSLV-C58, which also carries the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3). POEM-3 hosts 10 payloads, including the Radiation Shielding Experimental Module and the Women Engineered Satellite.
As India embarks on its first X-ray astronomy mission, 2024 promises to be a year of significant milestones for ISRO, contributing to global advancements in space exploration.
In the broader context of global space activities, 2024 is set to witness a flurry of orbital launch activities, including SpaceX’s Falcon 9 missions, the debut of United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, and Axiom Space’s collaboration with SpaceX for a crewed mission to the International Space Station. Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft is also scheduled for its first launch onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on Jan. 29, addressing ongoing geopolitical challenges.
Stay tuned for more updates as the new year unfolds with exciting developments in space exploration.
