Having conquered the Moon in 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) ushered in 2024 with a thunderous launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on its 60th flight carrying the XPoSat mission to space.
The PSLV-C58 mission lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 9:10 am IST as the world welcomed 2024
The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is India’s maiden venture into the world of polarimetry to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions. Polarimetry refers to the measurement and analysis of the polarisation of X-rays emitted by celestial objects in the universe.
In the study of bright astronomical X-ray sources, such as neutron stars, black holes, or other high-energy phenomena, polarimetry helps scientists gather additional insights beyond what traditional imaging or spectroscopy can provide. By measuring the polarisation of X-rays, researchers can learn more about the magnetic fields, geometry, and emission mechanisms associated with these energetic objects.
Isro is the second space agency after Nasa to have a dedicated spacecraft studying this feature of black holes. The polarimetry mission aims to analyse how the X-rays from celestial sources are polarised, which can reveal details about the structure and conditions of the objects emitting those X-rays.