Sriharikota: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to ring in the new year in style with the launch of its ambitious XPoSat mission from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota. The mission is dedicated to study the emission from black holes.
XpoSat is another landmark mission for ISRO after successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the moon’s surface and launch of Aditya L1 mission later this year.
Also Read: ISRO’s PSLV successfully places Aditya-L1 in outbound Earth orbit
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C58), carrying XPoSat with other 10 payloads is scheduled for the lift-off at 9.10am. XPoSAT will be put into an Eastward low inclination orbit.
XPoSat to be placed in to 350km orbit
“The PS4 stage of the satellite will re-ignite twice to reduce the orbit into a 350 km circular orbit to maintain in 3-axis stabilized mode for Orbital Platform experiments. The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 experiment will be executed meeting the objective of 10 identified payloads, supplied by ISRO and IN-SPACe,” states ISRO on the upcoming mission.
XPoSat is the first dedicated mission of ISRO to research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources, specially the black holes. The satellite will have two payloads—POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing). Both the instruments have been developed by Raman Research Institute and Space Astronomy Group of URSC, Bengaluru, respectively.
PSLV-C58 to carry 10 payloads
According to ISRO, the PSLV-C58 will also catapult 10 payloads developed by start-ups, education institutions and ISRO centres. The payloads include the Radiation Shielding Experimental Module (RSEM) by TakeMe2Space, Women Engineered Satellite (WESAT) by LBS Institute of Technology for Women, BeliefSa-t0 Amateur radio satellite by K.J. Somaiya Institute of Technology, Green Impulse TrAnsmitter (GITA) by Inspecity Space Labs Private Limited, Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Technologies -Technology Demonstrator (LEAP-TD) by Dhruva Space Private Limited, RUDRA 0.3 HPGP by Bellatrix Aerospace Private Limited, ARKA-200 by Bellatrix Aerospace Private Limited, Dust Experiment (DEX) by PRL, ISRO Fuel cell Power System (FCPS) by VSSC, ISRO and Si-based High Energy cell by VSSC, ISRO.
Major objectives of XPoSat mission
- To measure polarisation of X-rays in the energy band 8-30keV emanating from about 50 potential cosmic sources through Thomson Scattering by POLIX payload.
- To carry out long term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources in the energy band 0.8-15keV by XSPECT payload.
- To carry out polarisation and spectroscopic measurements of X-ray emissions from cosmic sources by POLIX and XSPECT payloads respectively in the common energy band.
