PSLV rocket with X Ray polarimeter and 10 other satellites lifts off from Sriharikota

A PSLV rocket carrying a total of 11 satellites including ISRO's X Ray polarimeter satellite (XPoSat), lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on January 1, 2024. ISRO's maiden X Ray Polarimeter Satellite, India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X ray sources in extreme conditions, would offer insights into celestial objects like black holes.

ISRO’s ever reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in its C58 mission, placed the primary X Ray Polarimeter satellite XPoSat into a 650 Km Low Earth Orbit as intended after lifting off at the pre fixed time of 9.10 a.m. from the first launch pad here. As the 25 hour countdown concluded, the 44.4 metre tall rocket lifted off majestically with thunderous applause from spectators who had descended here in large numbers at this spaceport situated about 135 km east of Chennai.

The X ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is aimed to investigate the polarisation of intense X ray sources in space. The X Ray polarisation serves as a crucial diagnostic tool for examining the radiation mechanism and geometry of celestial sources. The primary payload of XPoSat is POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X Rays) which is designed to measure polarimetry parameters by Raman Research Institute and XSPECT (X ray Spectroscopy and Timing) built by the U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru.

The Mission life is about five years. (With PTI inputs) COMMents SHARE Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit space programme / science (general).