ISRO to launch first ever mission to study Black Hole on january 1 .

Exciting News: ISRO is launching its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite today! This satellite has a cool mission: studying how intense X-ray sources in space are polarized. It's hitching a ride on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket. How awesome is that?

ISRO is kicking off the new year with a bang! They're launching their first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite on January 1st, using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle rocket. This satellite is like a cosmic detective, helping us understand cool things like black holes. The launch follows the success of the Gaganyaan Test Vehicle D1 mission in October.

In its 60th mission, the PSLV-C58 rocket will not only carry the main player, XPoSat, but also 10 other satellites, placing them in low earth orbits. The countdown started on Sunday, and the liftoff is set for 9:10 am from the launch pad at SDSC-SHAR in Sriharikota, just east of Chennai. Get ready for some space excitement!

Mission Objective

The XPoSat, or X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, has a cool job—it's checking out how X-rays from space are polarized. This is a big deal because it's ISRO's first scientific satellite solely dedicated to studying this aspect. Imagine it as a space detective, investigating the polarisation of intense X-ray sources from celestial bodies. ISRO is making strides in understanding our cosmic neighborhood!

Mission Goal

The PSLV-C58 mission has some fascinating goals! It aims to measure the polarization of X-rays within the 8-30 keV energy range from around 50 cosmic sources. The plan is to conduct extensive studies on the spectral and temporal aspects of these cosmic X-ray sources over the long term. X-ray polarization is like a cosmic detective tool, helping us understand the radiation process and the layout of celestial sources.

Now, let's talk about the star players in this mission. The main cargo, XPoSat, has a key tool called POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-Rays), crafted by the Raman Research Institute. POLIX is all about measuring polarimetry parameters. Then, there's XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing), developed by the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru. Together, they're set to unlock some cosmic mysteries!

Mission Duration

According to ISRO, the mission is expected to last around 5 years.

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

The 44.4-meter-tall PSLV rocket is set for an interesting mission! First, it will release the main satellite into a 650 km Low Earth Orbit, approximately 21 minutes after takeoff. Then, scientists have a cool plan—they'll bring the satellite down to a lower altitude of about 350 km by restarting the fourth stage of the rocket. This maneuver is for a scientific experiment called PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3).

This isn't the first time they're doing something like this. They conducted a similar experiment, POEM-2, during the PSLV-C55 mission in April 2023.

The rocket that's going to do all this is the PSLV-DL variant, weighing in at 260 tonnes during liftoff. The fourth stage is like a high-tech platform in space, all set up and stabilized in three axes to conduct these fascinating experiments. Exciting times for space exploration!

The upcoming mission is carrying some really cool stuff! There's the Radiation Shielding Experiment Module by TakeMe2Space, the Women Engineered Satellite by LBS Institute of Technology for Women, and BeliefSat, an amateur radio satellite, built by K J Somaiya Institute of Technology. Also on board are the Green Impulse Transmitter by Inspecity Space Labs Pvt Ltd, LEATTD (Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Technologies Technology Demonstrator) by Dhruva Space Pvt Ltd, RUDRA 0.3HPGP, and ARKA 200 developed by Bellatrix Aerospace Pvt Ltd. Plus, there's the Dust Experiment (DEX) by PRL, ISRO, and the Fuel Cell Power System and Si-based High Energy cell built by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

And here's something interesting: NASA, the US-based National Aeronautics Space Agency, did a similar study called the Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer mission in December 2021. They focused on remnants of supernova explosions, particle streams from black holes, and other cosmic events. While India has been doing space-based X-ray astronomy, this mission is a big deal, adding significant value to the scientific community. Exciting times for space exploration!