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General Studies 3 >> Science & Technology

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XPOSAT MISSION

XPOSAT MISSION

1. Context 

The Indian Space Research Organisation is collaborating with the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, an autonomous research institute, to build the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is scheduled to be launched later this year.
Recently, ISRO chairman  S Somanath urged Indian Scientific institutions to identify talented students and take steps to motivate them to effectively use the data emerging from science-based missions. He mentioned the XPoSat in this regard.

2. About XPoSat mission

  • According to ISRO, "XPoSat will study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions".
  • It has been billed as India's first, and only the world's second polarimetry mission that is meant to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions.
  • The other major mission is NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) was launched in 2021.
  • IXPE carries three state-of-the-art space telescopes. Each of the three identical telescopes hosts one lightweight X-ray mirror and one detector unit.
  • These will help observers polarize X-rays from neutron stars and supermassive black holes.
  • By measuring the polarisation of these X-rays, we can study where the light came from and understand the geometry and inner workings of the light source".
Image Source: Full after burner

3. X-Rays witnessed in space

  • As NASA explains on its website, X-rays have much higher energy and much shorter wavelengths, between 0.03 and 3 nanometers, so small that some X-rays are no bigger than a single atom of many elements.
  • The physical temperature of an object determines the wavelength of the radiation it emits.
  • The hotter the object, the shorter the wavelength of peak emission.
  • X-rays come from objects that are millions of degrees Celsius such as pulsars, galactic supernova remnants and black holes.
  • Like all forms of light, X-rays consist of moving electric and magnetic waves.
  • Usually, peaks and valleys of these waves move in random directions.
  • Polarised light is more organised with two types of waves vibrating in the same direction.
  • Fishermen use polarised lenses to reduce glare from sunlight when they are near water.
  • The field of polarimetry studies the measurement of the angle of rotation of the plane of polarised light (that is, a beam of light in which the vibrations of the electromagnetic waves are confined to one plane) that results in its passage through certain transparent materials.
  • The emission mechanism from various astronomical sources such as black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, pulsar wind nebulae etc. originate from complex physical processes and are challenging to understand.
  • Space-based observations are also unable to give information about the exact nature of the emission from such sources. Therefore, newer devices can measure specific properties.

4. XPoSat Payloads

  • 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 (degree and angle of polarisation).
  • The payload is being developed by RRI in collaboration with ISRO's U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) in Bengaluru.
  • POLIX is expected to observe about 40 bright astronomical sources of different categories during the planned lifetime of the XPoSat mission of about 5 years.
  • This is the first payload in the medium X-ray energy band dedicated to polarimetry measurements.
  • The XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload will give spectroscopic information (on how light is absorbed and emitted by objects).
  • It would observe several types of sources such as X-ray pulsars, blackhole binaries, low-magnetic field neutron stars etc.
 
For Prelims: Indian Space Research Organisation, Raman Research Institute,  X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), NASA, Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), pulsars, galactic supernova remnants, black holes
For Mains: 
1. What is XPoSat's Mission? Discuss its role in identifying X-rays in Space. (250 Words)
 
 
Previous Year Questions
 
1. ISRO is related to:  (SSC JE EE 2020)
A. space research
B. agricultural research
C. seed research
D. marine research
 
Answer: A
 
2. In the context of space technology, what is "Bhuvan", recently in the news? (UPSC 2010)
A. A mini satellite, launched by ISRO for promoting the distance educa­tion in India
B. The name given to the next Moon Impact Probe, for Chandrayan-II
C. A geoportal of ISRO with 3 D imaging capabilities of India
D. A space telescope developed by India
 
Answer: C
 
3. Recently scientists observed the merger of giant 'black holes' billions of light years away from the Earth. What is the significance of this observation? (UPSC 2019)
A. 'Higgs boson particles' were detected
B. 'Gravitational waves' were detected.
C. Possibility of inter-galactic space travel through 'wormhole' was confirmed.
D. It enabled the scientists to understand 'singularity'.
 
Answer: B
 
4. Black-hole is  (UPPSC 2019)
A. a flight recorder in aeroplane
B. a spot on the sun
C. a place in Antartica
D. a collapsed star
 
Answer: D
 
5. Where is Raman Research Institute located? (Karnataka Police Constable 2021)
A. Chennai       B. Bengaluru      C. Mysuru       D. Mumbai
 
Answer: B
 
6. Consider the following pairs: (UPSC 2014)
Spacecraft                     Purpose
1. Cassini-Huygens      Orbiting the Venus and transmitting data to the Earth
2.Messenger                 Mapping and investigating the Mercury
3. Voyager                    1 and 2 Exploring the outer solar system
Select the correct answer using the code given below.  
A. 1 only        B. 2 and 3 only       C. 1 and 3 only        D. 1, 2 and 3
 
Answer: B
 
7. Which of the following is the name of the NASA programme to land first woman and next man on the Moon by 2024?  (SSC MTS 2021) 
A. Orion
B. Apollo
C. Artemis
D.Nike
 
Answer: C
 
8. The final stage in life of a star is? (ACC 125 CGAT  2021) 
A. Pulsar
B. Blackhole
C. Quasar
D. Super Nava
 
Answer: B
 
Source: The Indian Express

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