Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set for another adventurous X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) mission later this month following the success of Chandrayaan-3 mission and successful launch of India's first solar observation mission Aditya L1 this year.

ISRO will also take up a series of space exploration missions next year and is set to take India's understanding about outer space to next level.

What Is X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite?

Indian Space Research Organisation prepared X-ray Polarimeter Satellite to study polarisation of cosmic X-Rays. It is planned to be launched on a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

X-ray Polarimeter Satellite is scheduled for launch on 28 December 2023. This mission aims to investigate the polarization of cosmic X-rays.

Purpose of X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite

This satellite is designed to remain operational for a minimum of five years and will be used to observe pulsars, X-ray binaries involving black holes, active galactic nuclei, and non-thermal supernova remnants.

Payloads Aboard X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite

The satellite will have two payloads aboard including primary scientific payload that is Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX) and secondary payload X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing (XSPECT).

Polarimeter Instrument In X-Rays (POLIX)

POLIX will study the degree and angle of polarisation of bright astronomical X-ray sources. POLIX payload, developed by Raman Research Institute, will measure polarimetry parameters when in outer space.

ISRO began working on the XPoSat project in September 2017 with a grant of ₹95,000,000. The team developed Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the XPoSat including the POLIX payload by September 2018. Following the development of blueprint of preliminary, ISRO began working on POLIX Qualification Model and on Flight Model components fabrication. POLIX will study and record data of about 40 bright astronomical sources.

X-Ray Spectroscopy And Timing (XSPECT)

XSPECT developed by the Space Astronomy Group, URSC, will measure spectroscopic information and timing of soft X-rays. This payload is designed for timing studies study soft X-rays. Main purpose of this payload is to understand long-term behaviour of X-ray sources through correlation of timing characteristics while aligning with spectral state changes and emission line variations. XSPECT will study and record data of X-ray pulsars, blackhole binaries, low-magnetic field neutron star (NS) in LMXBs, AGNs and Magnetars.