ISRO new mission On 1st Jan 2024. Know more in below article
ISRO new mission- On New Year’s Day, India began a new mission to solve one of the oldest mysteries in the universe – black holes. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the XPoSAT (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) at 9:10 am.
ISRO has designated the year 2024 as the “Year of Gaganyaan” for several tests leading to the realization of a manned space mission in 2025. Gaganyaan represents India’s human space mission. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath mentioned that the agency plans about 12-14 space missions in 2024 using its three rockets.
In 2024, ISRO will conduct various tests and activities related to Gaganyaan, including two abort missions. Last year, they successfully carried out the first Flight Test Vehicle Abort Mission-1 (TV-D1) to demonstrate the crew escape system. In 2024, ISRO will conduct two unmanned missions, helicopter drop tests, launchpad abort tests, and more.
Key Highlights:
- On January 1, 2024, ISRO successfully launched the PSLV-C58, placing the XPoSAT satellite in a desired orbit of 650 km.
- XPoSAT is India’s first dedicated scientific satellite for space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emission from celestial sources.
- The satellite carries two payloads: POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) developed by Raman Research Institute (RRI) Bengaluru and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) developed by Space Astronomy Group of URSC, Bengaluru.
- India becomes the second nation after the US to send an observatory to study astronomical sources like black holes.
- XPoSAT aims to study radiation from black holes and neutron stars, unraveling mysteries of ultra-extreme environments in space.
- The satellite will measure the polarization of X-rays in the energy band 8-30keV and carry out long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-ray sources.
- The mission cost around ₹250 crore (approximately $30 million) and is expected to last more than five years.
ISRO’s success in 2023 with the Chandrayaan mission and the upcoming Gaganyaan launch in 2024 reflects India’s achievements in space exploration. The PSLV rocket system is hailed as reliable and cost-effective on the global stage, evolving since its inception in 1993.
