In a significant step in unlocking the secrets of space, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will launch an X-ray polarimeter satellite (XPoSat) on January 1. XPoSat, representing India’s first polarimetry mission, aims to investigate the complex dynamics of luminous astronomical X-ray sources operating under extreme conditions.
The start is scheduled for 9:10. XPoSat will launch a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) into low Earth orbit. Carrying two advanced payloads, the mission promises groundbreaking discoveries that will greatly expand our understanding of astronomy.
The main payload, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), is designed to measure polarimetric parameters, including degrees and angles of polarization, in the mid-range X-ray energy range. Complementing this, a second payload, XSPECT (X-ray spectroscopy and synchronization), will provide important spectroscopic information.
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The importance of this mission lies in its potential to provide transformative insights into the emission mechanisms of enigmatic celestial bodies such as black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, and pulsar wind nebulae. This phenomenon, rooted in complex physical processes, has long puzzled scientists despite valuable data obtained from existing space observatories.
India’s XPoSat mission aims to capture the elusive degrees and angles of polarization, introducing two key elements in the process of unraveling this celestial mystery. “Polarimetric observations together with spectroscopic measurements are expected to break the decline of various theoretical models of astronomical emission processes. “This will be a major focus of the Indian scientific community’s research with XPoSat,” ISRO said about the mission.
XPoSat mission objectives
1. Measurement of the polarization of X-ray radiation in the energy range 8-30 keV originating from an X-ray source.
2. Long-term spectral and temporal study of cosmic X-ray sources in the energy range 0.8-15 keV.
With an estimated mission duration of about five years, the payload aboard XPoSat will closely monitor X-ray sources as they transit through Earth’s shadow, especially during eclipses.
XPoSat Payload:
POLIX: X-ray polarimeter developed for astronomical observations in the energy range 8-30 keV. This pioneering payload is a collaboration between the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, and UR Rao Satellite Center (URSC). This is the first charge in the midband X-ray energy band intended for polarimetric measurements.
XSPECT: X-ray spectroscopy and timing on XPoSat, designed to provide fast timing and excellent spectroscopic resolution in soft X-rays.
As India takes important steps into the unknown, XPoSat is poised to reveal the intricacies of space, offering new frontiers for scientific research and discovery.
2023-12-30 16:44:32
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