X-RAY POLARIMETER Syllabus GS Paper 3 - Sci and Tech)

Context: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that India is set to launch its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), aiming to investigate the polarisation of intense X-Ray sources.

X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat)

• Features and Payloads: The XPoSat spacecraft is designated for observation from Low Earth Orbit, carrying two scientific payloads that enable simultaneous studies of temporal, spectral, and polarization features of bright X-Ray sources.
• Objectives: Measuring X-Ray polarization in the energy band of 8-30 keV from X-Ray sources and conducting long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-Ray sources in the energy band of 0.8-15 keV.
• Observation Period: Approximately five years, with the payloads observing X-Ray sources during the spacecraft's transit through Earth's shadow, specifically during the eclipse period.
• Primary and Secondary Payloads of XPoSat:

oThe primary payload, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), measures polarimetry parameters in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV and was developed by the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru. 

oThe secondary payload, XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing), provides spectroscopic information within the energy range of 0.8-15 keV and was developed by the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), ISRO.