# India has now joined an elite group of nations, following the United States, to deploy a specialized astronomy observatory aimed at scrutinizing black holes and neutron stars within our own galaxy.
RNS: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has triumphantly launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C58.
This historic launch took place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at 9:10 AM local time earlier today. Alongside XPoSat, ten additional scientific payloads were sent into space.
The XPoSat mission signifies India’s inaugural dedicated scientific venture to investigate the polarization of cosmic X-rays emanating from celestial bodies.
With the successful launch of XPoSat, India has now joined an elite group of nations, following the United States, to deploy a specialized astronomy observatory aimed at scrutinizing black holes and neutron stars within our own galaxy.
The primary payload, XPoSat, boasts a projected mission lifespan of approximately five years and has been meticulously positioned into its intended orbit at 650 kilometers above Earth’s surface, as per ISRO Chief S Somanath.
Notably, ISRO marked a significant milestone with the 60th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) during this mission.
XPoSat, India’s maiden foray into dedicated polarimetry missions, carries two crucial scientific payloads in its low Earth orbit. The primary instrument, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), is designed to gauge polarimetry parameters, encompassing the degree and angle of polarization, within the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons originating from astronomical sources.
In addition, the XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload plays a pivotal role by delivering spectroscopic data within the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.
ISRO celebrated this momentous achievement by posting on its official platform: “XPoSat satellite is launched successfully.”
The PSLV-C58 vehicle showcased exceptional precision by accurately positioning the satellite into its designated orbit of 650 kilometers with a 6-degree inclination, as proudly announced by ISRO.
The successful launch of XPoSat ushers in a new era of scientific exploration for India, as it ventures into the enigmatic realms of black holes and neutron stars, enhancing our understanding of the cosmos.
