On January 1, 2024, in a dramatic advancement in space exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSAT) from Sriharikota, igniting a new quest to solve one of the universe’s oldest mysteries – black holes. The highly anticipated launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) at 9.10 am, followed by its successful orbit placement at 9.32 am, marked a sensational moment in India’s space exploration history.

XPoSAT: A Milestone in Global Astronomy

Celebrating its 60th flight, the PSLV rocket, weighing a massive 260 tonnes, carried XPoSAT, an advanced astronomy observatory, into space. This significant event has positioned India as only the second country after the US to have an observatory dedicated to studying black holes. The mission’s use of X-ray photons and their polarisation is set to shed light on the radiation from black holes and neutron stars.

The Science Behind the Mission

XPoSAT’s mission is groundbreaking, featuring the POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payloads. These instruments will measure X-ray polarisation from cosmic sources, providing critical insights into the nature of black holes and neutron stars – the universe’s densest and most gravitational entities.

India’s Ambitious Space Journey

The XPoSAT mission, with a budget of approximately ₹250 crore ($30 million), showcases ISRO’s commitment to cost-effective yet high-impact space research, in contrast to NASA’s IXPE mission’s $188 million cost. Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair lauded the PSLV as the most reliable and cost-effective rocket system globally.

ISRO: A Year of Space Marvels and Future Endeavors

Following the success of the Chandrayaan mission, ISRO has not only joined the elite space club but also set its sights on the upcoming Gaganyaan launch, India’s first human spaceflight programme. This marks a continuation of ISRO’s impressive trajectory in space achievements.

  black holes, Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, neutron stars, PSLV-C58, Space Exploration, Sriharikota, XPoSAT