{"id":162441,"date":"2024-02-15T14:19:13","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T08:49:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/?p=162441"},"modified":"2024-02-15T14:19:14","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T08:49:14","slug":"isro-to-launch-indias-first-x-ray-polarimeter-satellite-on-jan-1-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/isro-to-launch-indias-first-x-ray-polarimeter-satellite-on-jan-1-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"ISRO To Launch India\u2019s First X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite on Jan 1, 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><p class=\"MsoNormal\"><\/p><p class=\"MsoNormal\"><b>ISRO<\/b>\u00a0(Indian Space Research Organisation) has been making significant strides in space exploration, and the year 2024 is set to begin with yet another groundbreaking mission. Following the successes of the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 missions, ISRO is gearing up for its latest venture \u2013 the\u00a0<b>XPoSat mission<\/b>. Scheduled for launch on January 1, 2024, this mission marks<b>\u00a0India\u2019s maiden foray into polarimetry,<\/b>\u00a0a field crucial for studying black holes and other celestial sources emitting X-rays.<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\">Countdown to a New Year Launch<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>As the world welcomes the dawn of 2024, ISRO scientists will orchestrate the launch of XPoSat at precisely 9:10 am.<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l3 level1 lfo1;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>The mission\u2019s trajectory involves placing XPoSat into a<b>\u00a0low earth orbit<\/b>\u00a0(LEO), a feat to be accomplished by India\u2019s reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\">Scientific Payloads on Board<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>XPoSat carries two sophisticated scientific payloads designed to unravel the mysteries of cosmic phenomena.<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>The primary payload,\u00a0<b>POLIX<\/b>\u00a0(Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), is tasked with measuring polarimetry parameters \u2013 specifically, the degree and angle of polarization. This will be conducted<b>\u00a0within the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV.<\/b><\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l4 level1 lfo2;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>The second payload,\u00a0<b>XSPECT<\/b>\u00a0(X-Ray Spectroscopy and Timing), will provide crucial spectroscopic information within the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\">Unraveling Cosmic Mysteries<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>ISRO emphasizes the importance of understanding complex emission mechanisms from celestial sources like<b>\u00a0black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, and pulsar wind nebulae.<\/b><\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>Spectroscopic and timing data from various observatories offer valuable insights, but challenges persist in grasping the exact nature of these emissions.<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>The XPoSat mission aims to address these challenges by introducing polarimetric measurements, offering additional dimensions in the form of the degree and angle of polarization.<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\">ISRO\u2019s Technological Contribution: FEAST Software Tool<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo4;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>In parallel to its space exploration endeavors, ISRO has developed a\u00a0<b>cutting-edge analysis software tool named FEAST<\/b>\u00a0(Finite Element Analysis of Structures).<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo4;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>This tool, born out of decades-long efforts by scientists and engineers at ISRO\u2019s lead centre VSCC in Thiruvananthapuram, is designed for conducting\u00a0<b>Finite Element Analysis<\/b>\u00a0(FEA) of structures such as satellites, rockets, aircraft, and buildings.<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\">Unveiling Polarimetry: Insights into Satellite Surface Reflection<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo5;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>Polarimetry entails measuring the polarization degree of radiation reflected from a satellite\u2019s surface.<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo5;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>Polarimetry empowers astronomers to<b>\u00a0study and quantify features of celestial objects<\/b>\u00a0that may elude identification through alternative methods.<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo5;\ntab-stops:list .5in\"><span style=\"font-size:10.0pt;\nmso-bidi-font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:Wingdings;mso-fareast-font-family:\nWingdings;mso-bidi-font-family:Wingdings\">\u00d8<span style=\"font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-feature-settings: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\">\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>Examples include determining the size, shape, and orientation of dust particles, such as those found around comets or within planet-forming discs encircling stars.<\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/p> <p class=\"MsoNormal\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/p> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ISRO\u00a0(Indian Space Research Organisation) has been making significant strides in space exploration, and the year 2024 is set to begin with yet another groundbreaking mission. Following the successes of the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 missions, ISRO is gearing up for its latest venture \u2013 the\u00a0XPoSat mission. Scheduled for launch on January 1, 2024, this mission marks\u00a0India\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":419,"featured_media":162442,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5229],"tags":[1475,68],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-162441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-current-affairs-december-2023","tag-daily-current-affairs","tag-science-technology-current-affairs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/419"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162441"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":162443,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162441\/revisions\/162443"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162442"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162441"},{"taxonomy":"offerexpiration","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gkseries.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/offerexpiration?post=162441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}