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Starting The Year With A Bang - ISRO Launches XPoSat Black Hole Monitoring Satellite Into Space
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) kicked off 2024 with a bang by launching the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) into space with the PSLV launch vehicle. XPoSat will be used by ISRO to monitor space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emissions, particularly from celestial entities such as black holes.
The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite was among 10 identified payloads launched into space today by ISRO as part of the PSLV-C58 mission. The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) lifted off from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9:10 am today.
The PSLV rocket which is known as the 'Workhorse of ISRO' placed XPoSat into the intended orbit of 650 km with a 6-degree inclination about 22 minutes after it left the launch pad for space.
According to ISRO, XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) is the first dedicated scientific satellite from the India space agency to carry out research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources like black holes and neutron stars.
With the launch of XPoSat, India has joined a rather elite club that monitors X-ray emissions from celestial sources in our galaxy from space. The only other member of this elite club is the United States of America.
The launch of XPoSAT was the 58th successful mission for ISRO's PSLV launch vehicle. The 4-stage space launch vehicle stands 44 metres tall and weighs in at 320,000 kilogrammes in its heaviest guise - PSLV-XL.
The first stage of the PSLV launch vehicle is a solid rocket booster that develops a maximum thrust of about 4,800 kN. The second stage uses liquid propellant to power the Vikas engine which generates a maximum thrust of 800 kN.
The third stage uses solid rocket propellant to produce a maximum thrust of 250 kN. The fourth and final stage uses twin engines that produce 7.4 kN of maximum thrust each.
Thoughts About ISRO's Launch Of XPoSat
ISRO started 2024 with a bang by joining an uber-elite space club with the launch of XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite). With India's first manned space flight (Gaganyaan) planned for launch this year, 2024 will once again see all eyes on ISRO once again.
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