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Critical Topics and Their Significance for the UPSC CSE Examination on January 01, 2025

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POEM-4

For Prelims Examination:  Low earth Orbit (LEO), PSLV-C60/SpaDeX

For Mains Examination: GS III - Science & Technology

Context:

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) on Tuesday said that it had facilitated the successful establishment and operationalisation of 10 hosted payloads from non-government entities (NGEs) on board the POEM-4 module of the PSLV-C60/SpaDeX mission

Read about:

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

Polar Synchronous Launch Vehicle (PSLV)

Geo Synchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV)

Key takeaways:

• The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe) announced on Tuesday that it successfully facilitated the establishment and operation of 10 hosted payloads from non-government entities (NGEs) on the POEM-4 module of the PSLV-C60/SpaDeX mission.
• This mission, launched at an altitude of 350 km with a 55-degree inclination, utilized the repurposed fourth stage of the PSLV as the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-4) to conduct in-orbit scientific experiments.
• The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module, an innovative initiative by ISRO, provides a cost-effective platform for Indian start-ups, academic institutions, and research organizations to test their space technologies without requiring dedicated satellite launches. By offering this platform, barriers to entry are reduced, enabling broader participation in the space sector.
• IN-SPACe emphasized its commitment to fostering collaborations and supporting the growth of India's private space sector. Such missions play a vital role in building capacity by enabling NGEs to space-qualify their payloads, paving the way for their future satellite launches.
• Overall, the PSLV-C60 SpaDeX mission deployed 24 PS4-Orbital Experiment Module payloads, supporting diverse scientific and technological initiatives

 PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM)

• The PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM) is an innovative concept introduced by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to repurpose the spent fourth stage of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) for scientific and technological experiments.
• Traditionally, the fourth stage of the PSLV, after completing its primary mission of deploying satellites into their designated orbits, would become space debris.
• However, with the introduction of POEM, this stage is transformed into a functional platform that hosts payloads for in-orbit experiments, extending its utility and contributing to the advancement of space research.
• The POEM platform provides a unique opportunity for Indian start-ups, academic institutions, and research organizations to test and validate their space technologies under real orbital conditions without the need to launch entire satellites.
• This approach significantly reduces the cost and complexity associated with space experiments, making it an accessible option for a wider range of participants in the space sector.
• POEM is equipped with power systems, communication capabilities, and control mechanisms to support a variety of hosted payloads. These payloads can perform experiments in areas such as microgravity research, space technology development, and scientific investigations.
• By offering this platform