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ISRO Launches XPoSat Mission, Embarks on a Packed Year of Space Exploration
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) kicked off the new year with a spectacular launch as its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C58) successfully placed the XPoSat mission into a precise circular orbit of 650 km. The 21-minute flight on Monday marked the beginning of an ambitious year for ISRO, promising numerous launches, including significant milestones like the Gaganyaan mission.
ISRO Chairman S Somanath expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming year, highlighting the success of the TV-D1 mission in the previous year and revealing plans for two more test flights of the Test Vehicle followed by the unmanned mission of the Gaganyaan program in 2024. The year is expected to witness a series of launches, incorporating PSLV, GSLV, and the new SSLV launches.
"ISRO Begins 2024 in Style with Successful PSLV-C58/XPoSat Mission Launch"
Union Minister of State for the Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, commended ISRO's accomplishments and acknowledged the personal intervention and support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The successful launch of the PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission showcased ISRO's continued success in space exploration.
After deploying XPoSat into its designated orbit, the fourth stage of the launch vehicle was fired twice, bringing it down to a 350 km orbit. This lower orbit will serve as a platform for various experiments. ISRO's decision to reduce the platform's life in orbit by bringing it down was explained by the disposal of leftover fuel, allowing the platform to be safely dropped back into the atmosphere after completing its mission life of around a month.
ISRO has utilized the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) platform for the third time to demonstrate space technologies. The platform hosts various experiments, including a fuel cell power system designed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, serving as a precursor to future power systems for space stations. India has ambitious plans to establish a space station by 2035.
Among the experiments onboard the POEM is the Women Engineered Satellite (WESAT), developed by LBS Institute of Technology for Women. This satellite aims to study the comparison between solar irradiance and UV index. Additional experiments include a radiation shielding experiment, an amateur radio, three propulsion systems by space start-ups, an inter-planetary dust count experiment by the Physical Research Laboratory, and a silicon-based high-energy cell by VSSC.
ISRO's announcement that POEM-3 is in progress indicates the agency's commitment to advancing space technologies through experimental platforms. XPoSat, with its successful launch, becomes India's third space-based observatory, following the recently launched solar mission Aditya-L1 and AstroSat, launched in 2015. It is also the world's second space mission dedicated to studying the polarization of cosmic X-rays.
Studying the polarization of astronomical X-rays offers insights into the processes that result in their emissions. This method complements traditional imaging by studying fluctuations in light from sources and the energy radiated by celestial bodies. XPoSat's observations will contribute to understanding the emission mechanisms from sources such as black holes and neutron stars.
The observatory carries two payloads – POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) – designed to operate in the 8-30 keV range. POLIX focuses on polarimetry, while XSPECT employs spectroscopy to study the electromagnetic spectrum generated by different matter. The mission life of XPoSat is projected to be five years.
ISRO's successful launch of the XPoSat mission sets the stage for a year filled with exciting developments, showcasing India's prowess in space exploration and technological advancements.
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