PSLV-C58 Successfully Launches XPoSat, Advancing Space Exploration
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of PSLV-C58 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The primary payload, XPoSat, an X-ray polarimeter satellite developed in collaboration with the Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru, was deployed successfully at 9:10 am. This mission holds great promise for unraveling the mysteries of black holes by studying X-ray waves in space. XPoSat is equipped with instruments such as the X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing, as well as the X-ray Polarimeter, enabling it to explore around forty energy sources in space.
The launch of XPoSat was complemented by the deployment of ten small satellites, including WESAT, a Women Engineered Satellite designed by students from LBS Women’s Engineering College in Thiruvananthapuram. WESAT’s mission involves analyzing how ultraviolet rays from space impact Kerala’s climate. The PSLV-C58 launch adds to the stellar track record of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, having launched 345 satellites over its 30-year history. Despite facing challenges in the past, PSLV remains a reliable and cost-effective launch vehicle, supporting critical missions like Chandrayaan 1, Mangalyaan, and Aditya L1, and continuing to be a preferred choice for global commercial launches in the space industry.
