Sriharikota: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its 60th workhorse, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle – PSLV-C58 – on Monday from Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh.
The launch of the X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) took place at 9:10 am from the Sriharikota launch pad. The mission carries primary payload XPoSat and ten other satellites to be deployed in low earth orbits.
The XPoSat aims to investigate the polarisation of intense X-ray sources in space.
Marking a monumental milestone, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its 60th Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on Monday, 01 January 2024. Christened PSLV-C58, the mighty rocket roared skyward from the renowned Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, at precisely 9:10 AM. This momentous launch carried not just one, but eleven satellites, showcasing the ever-growing prowess of India’s space program.
The primary payload, the X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), embarked on a groundbreaking mission to unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. This dedicated scientific satellite marks a significant leap for India’s space-based X-ray astronomy, venturing beyond imaging and time domain studies to delve into the realm of polarisation measurements. By studying the way X-rays are emitted from celestial objects like black holes and galaxies, XPoSat promises to unlock secrets about their formation, evolution, and behavior.
But PSLV-C58 wasn’t alone in its celestial journey. Ten additional satellites, including earth observation satellites and student-built experiments, hitched a ride, each with their own unique scientific and technological goals. This diverse payload underlines the versatility and reliability of the PSLV, aptly nicknamed the “workhorse” of ISRO’s fleet.
The successful launch of PSLV-C58 heralds a new chapter in India’s space exploration endeavors.
Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair said, “Most of the missions have been successfully completed… This rocket system has evolved as one of the most reliable and cost-effective in the global scenario. Its track record shows that the success rate is more than 98 per cent and it is better than the global standard as far as the launch systems are concerned.”
He said that this PSLV’s launch is an important scientific mission in which it is going to have observation system for looking at the “fundamental phenomena associated with the galaxies, the black holes, the dying stars…”, adding that, “It will throw light into the origin of the universe… Spare capacity is being utilized for carrying several small satellites including satellites from several universities.”
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