Sriharikota: On Monday, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) welcomed the New Year with the successful launch of PSLV-C58, carrying 10 payloads, including India’s first dedicated scientific satellite for space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emissions from celestial objects, such as black holes.
The PSLV-C58 lifted off from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9:10 am. About 22 minutes after liftoff, the rocket placed XPoSat in an eastward low-inclination 650km orbit.
Following the injection of XPoSat, the PS4 stage was restarted twice to reduce the orbit into a 350km circular orbit to maintain a stabilized mode for orbital platform experiments. The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) experiment was executed, meeting the objective of the 10 identified payloads supplied by ISRO and InSpace.
XPoSat, weighing 469kg, carries two payloads – Polix (polarimeter instrument in X-rays) and Xspect (X-ray spectroscopy and timing). Polix is realized by Raman Research Institute, and Xspect is by Space Astronomy Group of URSC.
The mission’s objectives include measuring the polarization of X-rays from around 50 potential cosmic sources, conducting long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources, and carrying out polarization and spectroscopic measurements of X-ray emission from cosmic sources. The spacecraft will focus on celestial objects like black holes, neutron stars, and active galactic nuclei, contributing to a deeper understanding of their physics.
In addition to XPoSat, the PSLV orbital platform module carried 10 other payloads, including the Women Engineered Satellite by LBS Institute of Technology for Women, BeliefSat0 by KJ Somaiya Institute of Technology, a radiation shielding experimental module by TakeMe2Space, Green Impulse Transmitter by Inspecity Space Labs Private Limited, and Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Technologies Technology Demonstrator by Dhruva Space Private Limited. There were also two payloads from Bellatrix Aerospace Private Limited, two from Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC, ISRO), and one from Physical Research Laboratory (PRL, ISRO).
PSLV-C58 XPoSat Mission | ISRO launched X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) from the first launch pad, SDSC-SHAR, Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
According to ISRO, the performances of the first, second, third and fourth stages of the mission are normal. pic.twitter.com/hO1AjJQakZ
— ANI (@ANI) January 1, 2024
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