XPoSat Launch- India’s Giant Leap in X-Ray Astronomy

XPoSat Launch: India’s Giant Leap in X-Ray Astronomy

Stage is getting set for the launch of India’s first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite, the XPoSat, scheduled for January 1 by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The liftoff scheduled for the first day of 2024 using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), is a monumental step forward for India’s space endeavours, specifically in the domain of X-Ray astronomy.

“While our nation has established itself in space-based X-Ray studies focusing on imaging, time-domain analyses, and spectroscopy, the XPoSat mission represents a substantial leap by introducing systematic exploration into the polarization of X-Rays emitted by celestial sources,” explains Dr Srimathy Kesan, Founder, and CEO Space Kidz India.

“The significance of this mission lies in its capacity to measure X-Ray polarization in the 8-30 keV energy band, offering a new dimension to X-Ray astronomy beyond traditional studies.”

Why is it important for India?

Understanding the polarization of X-Rays opens a trove of opportunities in unravelling the mysteries of celestial bodies. It provides insights into black holes’ mass and spin, unveils details about their geometric configurations, explores accretion processes, and sheds light on particle acceleration mechanisms in pulsars, among numerous other applications.

Dr Srimathy Kesan says: “The XPoSat mission’s scientific payloads, POLIX and XSPECT, developed by esteemed institutions, aim to measure polarimetry parameters and offer spectroscopic data, respectively. POLIX, as the first payload dedicated to polarimetry in the medium X-ray energy band, is a testament to India’s commitment to pioneering advancements in this field.”

Furthermore, “the XPoSat User Meet held in May 2023 brought together national experts, fostering collaboration among institutes and universities to maximize the scientific outcomes of this mission. The enthusiastic engagement of the Indian Astronomy community, emphasizing the importance of student involvement and the development of expertise in X-Ray polarimetry, is truly heartening,” she adds.

Global Context

Moreover, in the global context, the XPoSat mission’s energy range complements NASA’s IXPE mission, offering coordinated observations in the 2-30 keV energy range. “This collaboration is poised to advance our understanding of X-Ray sources by probing different emission mechanisms and physics,” says the CEO of Space Kidz, India.

“The XPoSat mission signifies India’s commitment to exploring new frontiers in astronomy. By delving into X-Ray polarization, we aim to enrich our comprehension of the cosmos and inspire future generations to contribute to cutting-edge scientific pursuits.”

This mission holds immense promise not only for the advancement of Indian space science but also for the global astronomical community. Its launch marks a pivotal moment in our quest to decode the enigmatic universe.

India is a “Big Boy”

And is now making huge strides in this industry which was restricted until a few years before. “This also exhibits the maturity of our Country, the confidence we have in our thought process to explore Space.

A golden era where scientists, and leaders’ vision are aligned which gives a free hand to think out of the box. Gone are the days where India was dependent on the US and Russia for technology, and now we can proudly brag that we are indigenous,” she adds.

More from Founder, and CEO Space Kidz India

“I wish to add the perspective of students who earlier had the craze to work in NASA and NASA alone have all shifted towards ISRO, this is talking about students across the globe who now feel “ISRO is COOL” …