SRIHARIKOTA: India is the second country after the US to launch a satellite to study X-ray polarisation. The Indian Space Research Organisation on Monday launched XPoSat -- India’s first dedicated scientific satellite for carrying out research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emissions from celestial objects, including black holes.
After the successful launch, Isro’s Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre director V Narayanan said XPoSat is the second satellite in the world launched to study X-ray polarisation. NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) is the first such satellite. It was launched on December 9, 2021.
Isro says the XPoSat will carry out X-ray polarisation measurements on celestial objects like black holes, neutron stars and active galactic nuclei. This holds the potential to significantly improve scientists’ understanding of their physics, according to Isro.
The agency says the objective of the mission is to measure (degree and angle) polarisation of X-rays emanating from around 50 potential cosmic sources, to carry out long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources and to carry out polarisation and spectroscopic measurements of X-ray emission from cosmic sources.
Satellite director Brindaban Mahto said, “Once XPoSat is commissioned, it will be fruitful for the scientific community worldwide.”
XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite), weighing 469kg, carries two payloads – Polix (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and Xspect (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing). Polix is realised by Raman Research Institute and Xspect by Space Astronomy Group of URSC.
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