Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, the first day of New Year 2024, congratulated Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) scientists on the successful launch of the first X-ray satellite ‘XPoSat’ to study black holes and neutron stars.
Hailing the launch as India’s might in the space sector, Modi said, “Thanks to our scientists, a great start to 2024! This launch is wonderful news for the space sector and will enhance India’s might in this sector. “All the best to our scientists at @.” ISRO and the entire space world are engaged in taking India to unprecedented heights.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also praised ISRO scientists and said that their strength is the pride of India.
“Lighting up the universe in search of knowledge on the very first day of 2024, you have once again proved that your strength is our pride. “Congratulations to our @isro scientists on the historic launch of XPoSat, the special astronomy observatory satellite to study black holes and neutron stars in our galaxy,” he said in a post on X.
The space agency, in its first space mission of 2024, launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), which lifted off at 9:10 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Hailing the successful launch, ISR chief S Somnath said, “The new year has begun with the launch of PSLV, and we will have exciting times ahead. Another successful mission of PSLV has been completed on 1 January 2024. PSLV-C58 has placed the primary satellite – XPoSat – into an intended orbit of 650 km with a 6-degree inclination.
He also said that the Raman Research Institute had built the primary payload of the satellite, and the second payload was built by the astronomy group of URSC (U R Rao Satellite Centre).
ISRO said, PSLV-C58 rocket successfully deployed the payload EXPOSat in low Earth orbit in its 60th mission. It is ISRO’s first dedicated scientific satellite to conduct research in space-based polarization measurements of X-ray emissions from celestial sources.
The objective of the PSLV-C58 mission includes measuring the polarization of X-rays in the energy band 8–30 keV emanating from approximately 50 potential cosmic sources, to complete long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic
X-ray polarization serves as an important diagnostic tool for investigating the radiation mechanisms and geometry of celestial sources.