XPoSat in orbit; to study black holes, neutron stars.

Syllabus: GS-III

Subject: Science and Technology

Topic: Achievements of Indians in Science & Technology; Indigenization of Technology and Developing New Technology crossed

Context:   The launch put India in an elite category as it has become the second nation to send an observatory to study astronomical sources such as black holes, neutron stars among others.

Synopsis:

• The PSLV, in its 60th mission launched the XPoSat into an eastward low inclination orbit.
• The PSLV-C58 has placed the primary satellite XPoSat in the desired orbit of 650 km with six-degree inclination.
• XPoSat is the first dedicated scientific satellite from ISRO to carry out research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources.
• Payloads:
  • POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) developed by the Raman Research Institute
  • XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) by the Space Astronomy Group of URSC, Bengaluru.
• XPoSat is only the second X-ray polarimetry mission in the world, after NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) launched in 2021.
• PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) experiment was also executed, lowering the PS4 stage to 350 km. PS4 stage is configured as a 3-axis stabilised orbital platform for conducting experiments to space qualify systems with novel ideas.
• Among the payloads, the FCPS (Fuel cell Power System) payload is significant as it has potential applications in India’s space station which is proposed to come up by 2035.