WATCH: ISRO launches XPoSat, India’s first, world’s second satellite to study black holes

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The Indian Space Research Organisation, or ISRO, Monday launched X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) from the first launch-pad, SDSC-SHAR, at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

The launch of XPoSat marks India’s first satellite launch in 2023 and comes after the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 mission by the Indian space department.

XPoSat stands as the world’s second X-ray polarimetry mission, following NASA’s launch of the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) in December 2021.

'POEM-3 being scripted'

After the launch of XPoSat, ISRO took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to inform that the lift-off was normal and the satellite has been launched successfully.

XPoSat is India's maiden space-based observatory designed to explore X-ray polarization and its cosmic sources, including celestial entities like black holes, neutron stars, and magnetars.

Also Read: India begins New Year with launch of XPoSat satellite to study black holes

The PSLV-C58 rocket carried the primary payload for the launch of XPoSat and 10 other satellites that are destined for deployment in low-earth orbits.

What is ISRO's XPoSat mission?

XPoSat will operate within the medium X-ray band, distinguishing it from NASA's IXPE, which focuses on the soft X-ray band.

With the successful launch, India has secured its position as the second country globally to launch an advanced astronomy observatory dedicated to studying the intricate dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources, particularly black holes and neutron stars.

XPoSat will orbit Earth in a low orbit and is carrying two scientific payloads. The primary payload, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), will measure polarimetry parameters, including the degree and angle of polarization, in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons of astronomical origin.

Additionally, the XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload will provide spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.

Why XPoSat has been launched?

ISRO’s motivation behind launching XPoSat mission lies in the complexity of understanding the emission mechanisms from various astronomical sources, such as black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, and pulsar wind nebulae.

Objectives of XPoSat Mission

While existing space-based observatories offer valuable spectroscopic and timing information, the addition of polarimetry measurements, detailing the degree and angle of polarization, promises to enhance astronomers’ understanding of emission processes from these celestial sources.

Also Read: ISRO’s New Year Surprise: All you need to know about India’s XPoSat mission, why it is crucial for the country

The combination of polarimetric and spectroscopic observations is anticipated to unravel challenges posed by various theoretical models of astronomical emission processes.

The objectives of the XPoSat mission include measuring X-ray polarization in the energy band of 8-30 keV from around 50 potential cosmic sources, conducting long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources in the energy band of 0.8-15 keV, and performing polarimetry and spectroscopic measurements of X-ray emissions from cosmic sources within the common energy band.

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Umang Sharma

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