XPoSAT X­-ray Polarimeter Satellite

Source: PIB
GS III: Science and Technology

Overview

1. News in Brief
2. XPoSAT (X­-ray Polarimeter Satellite)
3. Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

Why in the News?

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), which is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the first sounding rocket launch from Thumba, preparing for another big 60.

• This mission will have as its payload XPoSAT

News in Brief

• The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), of ten, dubbed the reliable workhorse of the space agency given its sparkling success rate, is set to have its 60th flight soon.
• The ISRO is hoping to have the 60th PSLV launch by the end of December this year.

XPoSAT (X­-ray Polarimeter Satellite)

• Payload XPoSAT, short for X­ray Polarimeter Satellite.
• It is the country’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X­-ray sources in extreme conditions.
• Polarimetry is nothing but a method to study how light waves move.

XPoSat payloads

POLIX

• POLIX is an X-ray Polarimeter for astronomical observations in the energy band of 8-30 keV.
• The instrument is made of a collimator, a scatterer and four X-ray proportional counter detectors that surround the scatterer.

XSPECT

• XSPECT is an X-ray SPECtroscopy and Timing payload onboard XPoSat.
• It can provide fast timing and good spectroscopic resolution in soft X-rays.
• XSPECT can provide long-term monitoring of spectral state changes in continuum emission

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

• The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) is a family of expendable launch vehicles developed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• The PSLV is one of the most successful and reliable launch vehicles in the world.
• It is known for its versatility and capability to launch satellites into a variety of orbits.
• The ISRO will employ a PSLV variant which uses two strap­on motors for the 60th flight.
• 30 years ago four­stage expendable launch vehicle, the PSLV stood 44.4 metres tall.
• It was powered by two solid propellant and two liquid propellant stages.
• The PSLV had its first developmental flight  PSLV­D1 30 years ago was unsuccessful.
• The commercial launches began after two more developmental flights, both of which were successful.
• The PSLV has been a key player in advancing India’s space capabilities and contributing to the global space launch industry.
• It continues to be an active workhorse for ISRO, serving various mission objectives and furthering advancements in space technology.

Key features of the PSLV

Launch Capability

• The PSLV is designed to launch satellites into a variety of orbits, including polar orbits, sun-synchronous orbits, and geostationary transfer orbits.
• It is capable of carrying payloads ranging from small satellites to larger ones.

Configuration

• The PSLV comes in various configurations, including the PSLV-G (core-alone version), PSLV-CA (with strap-on boosters), PSLV-XL (with extended strap-on boosters), and PSLV-DL (dual launch).
• Each configuration is optimized for specific mission requirements.

Reliability

• The PSLV has gained a reputation for its reliability and success rate.
• It has been used for a variety of missions, including launching communication satellites, Earth observation satellites, navigation satellites, and international customer satellites.

Notable Missions

• One of the notable achievements of the PSLV was the launch of a record 104 satellites in a single mission (PSLV-C37) in February 2017.
• This mission set a new world record for the highest number of satellites launched in a single flight.

Versatility

• The PSLV has been used for both domestic and international satellite launches.
• It has played a crucial role in India’s space program.
• Also become a popular choice for launching satellites for other countries, contributing to India’s commercial launch services.

Cost-Effective

• The PSLV is known for its cost-effectiveness, making it an attractive option for satellite launches, especially for smaller countries and commercial entities.

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