ISRO successfully launches its maiden X-Ray polarimeter satellite

sriharikota (andhra pradesh): isro on monday successfully launched its maiden x-ray polarimeter satellite that would offer several insights into celestial objects like black holes.isro's ever reliable polar satellite launch vehicle (pslv) in its c58 mission, placed the primary x-ray polarimeter satellite xposat into a 650 km low earth orbit as intended after lifting off at the pre-fixed time of 9.10 am from the first launch pad here. as the 25-hour countdown concluded, the 44.4-metre tall rocket lifted off majestically with thunderous applause from spectators who had descended here in large numbers at this spaceport situated about 135 km east of chennai. the x-ray polarimeter satellite (xposat) is aimed to investigate the polarisation of intense x-ray sources in space. according to isro, it is the first dedicated scientific satellite from the space agency to carry out research in space-based polarisation measurements of x-ray emission from celestial sources. the x-ray polarisation serves as a crucial diagnostic tool for examining the radiation mechanism and geometry of celestial sources.the primary payload of xposat is polix (polarimeter instrument in x-rays) which is designed to measure polarimetry parameters by raman research institute and xspect (x-ray spectroscopy and timing) built by the u r rao satellite centre, bengaluru. the mission life is about five years.