XPoSat

The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) manufactured space observatory to study polarisation of cosmic X-rays. It was launched on 1 January 2024 on a PSLV rocket, and it has an expected operational lifespan of at least five years.

X-ray Polarimeter Satellite
X-ray Polarimeter satellite (XPoSat) in deployed configuration
NamesXPoSat
Mission typeSpace observatory
OperatorISRO
COSPAR ID2024-001A
SATCAT no.58694
Websitewww.isro.gov.in/XPoSat.html
Mission durationPlanned : 5 years
Elapsed : 1 month, 12 days
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftX-ray Polarimeter Satellite
BusModified IMS-2
ManufacturerRaman Research Institute
U R Rao Satellite Centre
Launch mass480 kg (1,060 lb)
Payload mass144 kg (317 lb)
Dimensions65 × 65 × 60 cm (26 × 26 × 24 in)
Power1260 watts
Start of mission
Launch date1 January 2024, 9:10 AM IST (3:40 UTC)
RocketPSLV-DL
Launch siteSatish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad
ContractorISRO
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeLow Earth orbit
Perigee altitude638 km
Apogee altitude653 km
Inclination
Period97.61 minutes
Instruments
Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX)
X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing (XSPECT)

XPoSat Logo  

The telescope was developed by the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in close collaboration with U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC). As per ISRO, this mission will complement the efforts of US space agency NASA, which launched its Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) in 2021 by observing space events across a broad energy range of 2-30 keV.

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