Here are the latest updates on India’s inaugural space mission of 2024, the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), as launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on January 1. The satellite took off at 9:10 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Following the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 missions, this marks another significant stride in India’s space exploration endeavors.
XPoSat is a specialized astronomy observatory designed to investigate black holes and neutron stars in our galaxy, making India the second country globally, after the United States, to undertake such a mission. Notably, the satellite will conduct experiments involving testing Fuel Cell Power Systems (FCPS) in the lower orbit, aligning with ISRO’s broader strategy to validate technologies crucial for the proposed Indian Space Station’s success.
ISRO Chief S Somanath confirmed the successful launch, stating that the PSLV-C58 vehicle precisely placed the satellite into its intended orbit of 650 km with a 6-degree inclination. Following this, the PSLV’s orbit will be reduced for further experiments, which will take some time.
XPoSat launch LIVE : ISRO Says Happy New Year
This mission represents India’s inaugural observation of black holes, distinguishing it from previous studies conducted by other countries. ISRO Chairman S Somnath emphasized the ambitious target of at least 12 missions in 2024, with the possibility of exceeding this number based on hardware production, testing completion, and overall progress. Space scientist Dr. Suvendu Patnaik from Odisha praised ISRO’s successful launch of XPoSat, highlighting its objective to study X-rays from various celestial sources in the Universe.
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