How the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reached into new height by launching an X-ray polarimeter satellite

By Team Unread Why
Image Credit: ISRO

About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Indian  Space Research Organisation(ISRO) is one of the renowned space agencies in the global domain, which originated in India. They operate as the leading research and development (R&D) arm of the Department of Space of India, which is supervised by the Prime Minister of this nation. Besides, the Chairman of ISRO played a leading executive role, enabling this space agency to conduct space-related discoveries and missions.

In addition, the “Department of Space” (DOS) has the foremost objectives of promoting development along with technologies that facilitate some of the extraordinary space-related discoveries that help India to reach new heights in the field of space-based operations, international space cooperation, and space exploration. On 1 January 2024, the “Indian Space Research Organisation” ISRO launched an X-ray Polarimeter Satellite shortly (XPoSat) on a “Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle” (PSLV) rocket.

The major factor that forced this well-recognized space agency to launch this Satellite is to comprehend the phenomenon which is called as polarisation of cosmic X-rays. This is India’s first polarimetry Satellite, which would help ISRO to study wider dynamics of x-ray sources, which are emitted through various interstellar objects such as neutron stars, pulsars, and black hole x-ray binaries. 

More information about X-ray polarimeter satellite

The phenomenon which is known as the polarisation of light has attracted the positive attention of scientists and many space agencies in different parts of the globe since it has enabled them to discover the comic occurrence induced by black holes, supermassive star clusters, and pulsars. This is the reason the renowned space agency of India ISRO, in order to attain a new height in space-associated discovery, has launched an X-ray polarimeter satellite (XPoSat), which is capable of carrying two scientific payloads that is orbit around the earth to analyze the pattern x-ray polarization.

The XPoSat has two major payloads, such as “Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays” (POLIX) and “X-ray Spectrography and Timing” (XSPECT). Through deep down to the two major payloads, it has been identified that POLIX is a Thomson z-ray polarimeter which will aid “The Indian Space Research Organisation “ ISRO to evaluate the degree as well as the angle of polarisation of massive staller objects and its polarimetry parameters range from 8-30 kilo electron volt (KeV). The POLIX has been developed by Raman Research Institute, and its competency in evaluating polarized X-ray light could bridge a gap detecting ability between soft X-ray polarimeters using photoelectron tracks.

The foremost objects for observation with this instrument are the bright X-ray accretion-powered back holes and neutron stars in various spectral statuses in galactic nuclei. On the other hand, X-ray Spectrography and Timing” (SPECT) is the secondary payload of an X-ray polarimeter satellite, and it has the competency to evaluate spectroscopic data, the timing of soft X-rays as well as electromagnetic spectrum, which of often produced by various types of matter.

This is designed to pursue timing studies of X-rays of 0.8-15 KeV, which contradicts what the large area of X-ray proportional counter (LAXPC) does at substantial energy at AstroSat while simultaneously providing proper spectral resolution. This could contribute to their understanding of massive staller objects’ high energy phenomena, such as Black Holes and Neutron Stars, which emit X-rays.

X-ray polarimeter satellite would allow ISRO to study black holes.

ISRO’s (XPoSat) has been deployed to study the dynamics of cosmological X-ray sources in adverse conditions. The X-ray polarimeter satellite would provide the required insights into interstellar objects and cosmological phenomena, which is encouraged by black holes. The PSLV rockets carry primary payload alongside secondary ones to low earth orbit, which will use x-ray photons along with their polarization, which will facilitate the study of x-rays, which are emitted by neutron stars and black holes. This will allow “The Indian Space Research Organisation” ISRO to attain a significant position amongst the leading space agencies like “National Aeronautics and Space Administration” NASA. 

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Thursday, Dec 26, 2024