X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat)

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About X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat)

It is India’s first dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.
Aim: It is aiming to investigate the polarisation of intense X-Ray sources.
The spacecraft will carry two scientific payloads in a low earth orbit.
- POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays): It will measure the polarimetry parameters (degree and angle of polarization) in medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV photons of astronomical origin.
- XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload: It will give spectroscopic information in the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.
It is designated for observation from Low Earth Orbit (non-sun synchronous orbit of ~650 km altitude, low inclination of approximately six degree).
The mission life is expected to be approximately five years.
The payloads onboard XPoSat will observe the X-Ray sources during the spacecraft’s transit through the Earth’s shadow, i.e., during the eclipse period.
It will be launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.

Q1) What is Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) ?

IXPE is an international collaboration between NASA and the Italian Space Agency. It studies the most extreme and mysterious objects in the universe – supernova remnants, supermassive black holes, and dozens of other high-energy objects.

Source: India set to launch its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite: ISRO