After its successful sun, moon expeditions, Isro starts work on dedicated polarimetry mission

After the success of India’s Moon and Sun missions, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is now preparing for the country’s first (and world’s second) dedicated polarimetry mission to study various dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions, providing vital information on the nature and behaviour of celestial objects. This mission is expected to be launched by the end of the year, scientists said.

- Soumya Pillai

 

“The dates for the XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) mission are yet to be finalised but the work around it is progressing at a fast pace,” Isro chairman S Somanath said.

XPoSat is India’s first and the world’s second space mission to measure the polarisation of light. Polarimetry is a powerful tool that allows astronomers to infer information about celestial objects, from passing comets to distant galaxies. Isro scientists explained that the mission is unique and crucial because it will help them understand and measure emissions from various astronomical sources — black holes, neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, pulsar wind nebulae — that are otherwise challenging to study.

Such emissions are mostly tracked by studying the chemical make up (using a spectroscope) and the time it takes them to travel a distance.