In an exciting start to 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marked its maiden mission of the year by launching XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) along with 10 other satellites. The successful liftoff took place from Sriharikota's spaceport aboard a PSLV-C58 rocket. This significant milestone represents India's inaugural venture into studying the polarization of intense X-ray sources and delving into the enigmatic realm of black holes.
The XPoSat mission, a part of ISRO's PSLV-C58 Mission, involves deploying the XPOSAT Satellite into a low inclination orbit towards the east. ISRO elucidated, "Following XPOSAT's injection, the PS4 stage will undergo two restarts to adjust the orbit to a 350 km circular path, crucial for maintaining stability in the 3-axis mode for Orbital Platform (OP) experiments."
Detailing the mission's components, ISRO highlighted, "The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) is designed to fulfill the objectives of 10 identified payloads sourced from ISRO and IN-SPACe."
The XPoSat craft carries two key scientific payloads while orbiting the lower Earth atmosphere. ISRO specified, "The primary payload, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), will gauge polarization parameters (degree and angle) within the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons originating from astronomical sources. Meanwhile, the XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload will provide detailed spectroscopic data in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV."
This mission's primary objective revolves around examining the polarization of intense X-ray sources in outer space. ISRO emphasized that XPoSat represents the agency's first dedicated scientific satellite aimed at conducting space-based research concerning polarization measurements of X-ray emissions originating from celestial sources.
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