Context:
- ISRO is hoping to have the 60th PSLV launch by December. This mission will have as payload the XPoSAT
About XPoSAT
- India’s 1st dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.
- Orbit – low earth orbit
- 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 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.
Polarimetry – a technique to measure the polarisation of light. It is a powerful tool that allows astronomers to infer information about celestial objects
- The emission mechanism from various astronomical sources such as blackhole, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, pulsar wind nebulae etc. originates from complex physical processes and is challenging to understand.
- The polarimetric observations along with spectroscopic measurements are expected to break the degeneracy of various theoretical models of astronomical emission processes.
Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
- 3rd generation launch vehicle of India
- Number of Stages – 4
- The 1st Indian launch vehicle to be equipped with liquid stages
- 1st successful launch – 1994
- PSLV is known as ‘the workhorse of ISRO’ through consistently delivering various satellites into low earth orbits
- It can take up to 1,750 kg of payload to Sun-Synchronous Polar Orbits of 600 km altitude.
- Also been used to launch various satellites into Geosynchronous and Geostationary orbits
- PSLV is capable of placing multiple payloads into orbit
- Famous launches – Chandrayaan-1, Mars Orbiter Spacecraft, Astrosat, Aditya L1
Source: The Hindu
Previous year question
With reference to India’s satellite launch vehicles, consider the following statements:
1. PSLVs launch the satellites useful for Earth resources monitoring whereas GSLVs are designed mainly to launch communication satellites.
2. Satellites launched by PSLV appear to remain permanently fixed in the same position in the sky, as viewed from a particular location on Earth.
3. GSLV Mk III is a four-staged launch vehicle with the first and third stages using solid rocket motors; and the second and fourth stages using liquid rocket engines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2018 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 3 only
Answer: (a)
