ISRO ushers in new year with XPoSat launch, PM says it will 'enhance India's prowess in space sector'

Congratulating the scientists for the launch, PM Modi tweeted: "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."

The ISRO launched the PSLV-C58 X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) on the first day of the new year, 2024.

The PSLV, in its 60th mission, lifted off at 9.10 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, and 22 minutes later launched the XPoSat into an eastward low-inclination orbit.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also lauded the launch of the satellite and said, "Bharat's monumental stride in space."

"Congratulations to our @isro scientists on the historic launch of the specialized astronomy observatory satellite XPoSat to study black holes and neutron stars in our galaxy. Brightening up the cosmos in pursuit of knowledge on the very first day of 2024, you have proven yet again that your might is our pride," Amit Shah wrote in a post.

Expressing his happiness over the launch, Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said "ISRO begins 2024 in Style".

"Proud to be associated with the Department of Space at a time when Team @isro continues to accomplish one success after another, with the personal intervention & patronage from PM Shri@narendramodi" Jitendra Singh said on X.

Through this satellite, India will become the second country in the world after the United States to send a specialised astronomy observatory to study black holes and neutron stars in our galaxy.

XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission.

The spacecraft will carry two scientific payloads in a low earth orbit. The primary payload POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) will measure the polarimetry parameters (degree and angle of polarization) in medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons of astronomical origin.

The XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload will give spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.