India’s foray into space exploration continues to break new ground with its latest venture – the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat). The goal of this mission is to study various dynamics of astronomical sources under extreme conditions. This endeavor into polarimetry catapults India to the forefront of space research, with XPoSat being only the second polarimetry mission in the world to use X-Ray technology. The first one was NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) launched in 2021.
Somanath’s Emphasis on Utilizing Space Data
The Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S Somanath, accentuated the importance of data utilization from science-based space missions during the ‘User Meet of XPoSat.’ During his address at ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru, he encouraged Indian scientific institutions to exploit emerging data technologies. Identifying talented students and motivating them to work with these cutting-edge technologies, like XPoSat, was a key focus of his speech.
XPoSat: A Collaborative Endeavor
XPoSat reflects the collaborative efforts of the ISRO and the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The satellite is fitted with two scientific payloads: Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX) and X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing (SPECT). These instruments will measure essential parameters within defined energy ranges and gather valuable timing and spectroscopic information from X-ray photons.
Piivotal Role of POLIX and SPECT in Understanding Astronomical Sources
These payloads carry a lot of promise for unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos. POLIX and SPECT offer comprehensive tools to investigate emission processes from various astronomical sources such as black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, and pulsar wind nebulae. By pairing polarimetric observations with spectroscopic and timing measurements, researchers hope to expand current understanding of these astronomical emission processes.
An Update on XPoSat
As of now, testing for XPoSat is nearing completion. The mission is in its advanced stages and is scheduled to be launched sometime in 2023.
Upcoming ISRO Missions: A Synopsis
The ISRO has an exciting line-up of ventures for the near future. These include Aditya-L1, India’s first dedicated solar observatory mission, slated to launch in June-July 2023, and Chandrayaan-3, the successor to Chandrayaan-2, set for a June 2023 launch. ISRO is also planning Shukrayaan-1, which will be India’s maiden orbiter mission to Venus. Another notable project is the Gaganyaan Mission, envisaged as a manned space mission that will place astronauts 400km into orbit. Last but not least is NISAR, a joint Earth-observing venture with NASA geared towards gathering data on global environmental changes.