Why is it in the news?
- Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announces the launch of India’s first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat).
- The other such major mission is NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) that was launched in 2021.
About XPoSat
- Launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
- Aims to investigate the polarization of intense X-Ray sources.
| Polarisation of X-Ray Sources
· Intrinsic property of light. · Provides deeper insight into processes and local anisotropies of fields (electric/magnetic/gravitational). · X-Ray polarization serves as a crucial diagnostic tool for examining the radiation mechanism and geometry of celestial sources. |
XPoSat Mission
- It is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission.
- Observation from Low Earth Orbit (~650 km altitude, low inclination of approximately six degrees).
- Carries two scientific payloads:
- POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays): Measures degree and angle of polarization in the medium X-ray energy range (8-30 keV photons). It is being developed by Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bangalore in collaboration with U R Rao Satellite Centre(URSC).
- XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing): Provides spectroscopic information within the energy range of 0.8-15 keV. It was developed by the U.R.Rao Satellite Centre,ISRO.
- Payloads observe X-Ray sources during the spacecraft’s transit through Earth’s shadow (eclipse period).
- Mission life expected to be approximately five years.
Significance
- Enables measurements of mass and spin of accreting black holes.
- Enhances comprehension of the source’s geometric arrangement and local properties.
- Polarimetry measurements add dimensions to understanding emission processes from astronomical sources.
| Launch Vehicles
India has three active operational launch vehicles: · PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle): Versatile, highest success rate, used for various payloads. · GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle): Capable of launching up to 2-tonne class communication satellites with indigenous Cryogenic Upper Stage. · LVM3 (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk-III): Next-gen launch vehicle, capable of launching 4-tonne class communication satellites and 10-tonne class payloads to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Upcoming Missions of ISRO · Gaganyaan: Human spaceflight project to demonstrate capability by launching a crew of 3 members for a 3-day mission. · NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR): Jointly developed Low Earth Orbit observatory to map the entire globe in 12 days, providing consistent data for understanding Earth’s ecosystems. · SPADEX: Twin spacecraft mission to mature technologies related to orbital rendezvous, docking, formation flying, with applications in human spaceflight, in-space satellite servicing, and other proximity operations. |
