XPoSat

• 27 May 2023

Why in News?

Recently, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), S Somanath, addressed students and scientists during the 'User Meet of XPoSat' at the ISRO headquarters in Bengaluru.

• He emphasised the importance of effectively utilizing data from science-based space missions and encouraged Indian scientific institutions to identify talented students and motivate them to work with emerging data technologies like XPoSat.

What is XPoSat?

• About:
  • XPoSat stands for X-ray Polarimeter Satellite.
    • It is India's pioneering polarimetry mission aimed at studying various dynamics of astronomical sources in extreme conditions.
    • It is only the world’s second polarimetry mission using X-Ray after NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) that was launched in 2021.
• XPoSat is a collaboration between the ISRO and the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, Karnataka.

• Scientific Payloads of XPoSat:
  • XPoSat will carry two scientific payloads: Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX) and X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing (SPECT) in a low Earth orbit.
    • POLIX payload will enable the measurement of polarimetry parameters such as the degree and angle of polarization in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons originating from astronomical sources.
    • SPECT payload will provide valuable timing and spectroscopic information within the energy range of 0.8-15 keV of X-ray photons.
• Importance in Understanding Astronomical Sources:
  • Polarimetry measurements offer an excellent diagnostic tool for comprehending the emission processes from various astronomical sources.
    • Astronomical sources, including black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, and pulsar wind nebulae, present complex emission mechanisms that challenge the current understanding.
  • By combining polarimetric observations with spectroscopic and timing measurements, researchers anticipate overcoming the limitations of the present understanding of astronomical emission processes.
• Status of XPoSat:
  • Testing for XPoSat is nearing completion, and the mission is in its advanced stages and is scheduled to be launched sometime in the year 2023.

Other Upcoming Missions of ISRO:

• Aditya-L1:
  • India's first dedicated solar observatory mission, scheduled for June-July 2023
• Chandrayaan-3:
  • A follow-up mission to Chandrayaan-2, scheduled for June 2023.
• Shukrayaan-1:
  • India's first orbiter mission to Venus.
• Gaganyaan Mission:
  • A manned space mission that will put astronauts 400km in orbit.
• NISAR:
  • A joint Earth-observing mission between ISRO and NASA that will provide information on global environmental changes.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched? (2014)

Spacecraft Purpose

1. Cassini-Huygens Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth
2. Messenger Mapping and investigating the Mercury
3. Voyager 1 and 2 Exploring the outer solar system

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (b)

Source: IE