A Great Start To 2024, Launch Will Enhance India’s Prowess In Space Sector: PM Modi On ISRO’s XPoSAT Mission

ISRO XPoSAT Launch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated ISRO on the successful launch of the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSAT) mission on New Year's Day.

ISRO XPoSAT Launch: On X (formerly Twitter), Modi called the launch "a great start to 2024", and thanking scientists, said the launch is "wonderful news for the space sector and will enhance India's prowess" in the field.  ( Image Source :X/@ISRO )

ISRO XPoSAT Launch: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on the successful launch of the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSAT) mission on New Year's Day. ISRO launched XPoSAT at 9:10 am IST on January 1, 2024, from First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. On X (formerly Twitter), Modi called the launch "a great start to 2024", and thanking scientists, said the launch is "wonderful news for the space sector and will enhance India's prowess" in the field. 

He wished luck to ISRO scientists and the space fraternity in taking India to "unprecedented heights". 

A great start to 2024 thanks to our scientists! This launch is wonderful news for the space sector and will enhance India's prowess in this field. Best wishes to our scientists at @isro and the entire space fraternity in taking India to unprecedented heights. https://t.co/4O4F6kRpEX

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 1, 2024

XPoSAT is India's first mission to study black holes and neutron stars, and also the first dedicated polarimetry mission to study the dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions. This means that the XPoSAT spacecraft will analyse X-ray sources of celestial bodies such as black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, and pulsar wind nebulae by measuring the beams of light in which the vibrations of the electromagnetic waves are confined to one plane.

XPoSAT blasted off into space atop a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), as part of the PSLV-C58 mission. This is PSLV's 60th mission, the first orbital launch attempt of 2024, and ISRO's 92nd mission overall. 

Two scientific payloads onboard XPoSAT will study interesting celestial objects such as neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, nebulae, and black holes. 

The PSLV-C58 vehicle has placed the XPoSAT satellite into a 650-kilometre orbit with an inclination of six degrees to the Earth. This is an eastward low-inclination orbit. 

PS4, the fourth stage of PSLV, has been brought down to a 350-kilometre orbit.