The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) celebrated the commencement of the new year by propelling India’s maiden X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) into orbit. This groundbreaking initiative aims to delve into X-ray polarization and explore various cosmic sources, including black holes, neutron stars, and magnetars.
The historic launch took place at 9:10 am on Monday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, where the PSLV-C58 rocket carried XPoSat as its primary payload along with 10 other satellites destined for deployment in low-earth orbits.
— ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2024
XPoSat stands as the world’s second mission of its kind, distinct from NASA’s 2021 launch of the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) focusing on soft X-ray band measurements. Conversely, XPoSat is designed to operate within the medium X-ray band.
Significance of X-ray polarization
Equipped with two pivotal payloads—POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing)—XPoSat anticipates observing nearly 40 distinct bright astronomical sources while studying the electromagnetic spectrum generated by different matter, as outlined by ISRO.
The significance of X-ray polarization lies in its capacity to serve as a diagnostic tool, enabling an intricate examination of radiation mechanisms and celestial source geometries. These insights gleaned from X-ray polarization measurements hold immense potential in augmenting our understanding of the physics governing black holes, neutron stars, and active galactic nuclei.
Developed by two Bengaluru-based institutes — the ISRO’s UR Rao Satellite Centre and Raman Research Institute — XPoSat was conceptualized in 2008, with formal collaboration with ISRO initiated in 2015.
Marking India’s third space-based observatory following the recent solar mission Aditya-L1 and the 2015 launch of AstroSat, XPoSat’s development was lauded by S Seetha, a former ISRO scientist pivotal in leading the Mangalyaan mission.
(With agency inputs)