ISRO To Launch XPoSat Aboard PSLV-C58 On New Year's Day
The Indian Space Research Organization (Isro) is set to enhance its space exploration to a new level with the launch of the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) with PSLV-C58 aboard on January 1, 2024, marking its 60th space mission.
This is the initial scientific endeavor of ISRO to study the polarization of cosmic X-rays from celestial sources, which in turn shed light on black holes and neutron stars.
🚀 PSLV-C58/ 🛰️ XPoSat Mission:
The launch of the X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is set for January 1, 2024, at 09:10 Hrs. IST from the first launch-pad, SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota.https://t.co/gWMWX8N6IvThe launch can be viewed LIVE
from 08:40 Hrs. IST on
YouTube:… pic.twitter.com/g4tUArJ0Ea— ISRO (@isro) December 31, 2023
The XPoSat mission is scheduled to lift off at 09:10 am IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota with two scientific payloads, namely POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) onboard, which measure the degree and angle of polarisation in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons of astronomical origin and spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV respectively, in the lower Earth orbit.
Moreover, XPoSat will measure the polarization of X-rays emanating from cosmic sources, will conduct long-term spectral and temporal studies, and will try to understand the distribution of magnetic fields and the nature of accelerators in galactic cosmic X-ray sources.
A series of experimental satellites from several private space companies were also onboarded at the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module, Poem, which would be used as an orbital platform to carry out scientific experiments through non-separating payloads.
Isro will livestream the mission.
