By Ahmad Adil
NEW DELHI (AA) – The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Monday successfully launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, also known as XPoSat, the country’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to carry out research in space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emissions from celestial sources like black holes.
XPoSat was launched onboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on Monday at 9.10 am local time (0340GMT), the organization said.
“Lift-off normal. XPoSat satellite is launched successfully,” the ISRO wrote on X, adding that the PSLV-C58 vehicle placed the satellite precisely into the intended orbit.
Ahead of the launch, the space agency said the spacecraft will carry two scientific payloads in a low earth orbit.
“The primary payload POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) will measure the polarimetry parameters…the XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload will give spectroscopic information,” it said.
Today’s mission was planned after the country’s successful moon landing last year. In September, India also launched its first space mission to study the sun.