In an auspicious start to 2024, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) initiated its first space mission of the year by successfully launching the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) on Monday, January 1. The satellite gracefully ascended into space at 9:10 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.
Following the recent strides of the Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 missions, this launch represents another significant milestone in India’s commitment to advancing space exploration.
Addressing the success of the XPoSat launch, ISRO Chief S. Somanath expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “A new year begins with this achievement.” The XPoSat satellite, a groundbreaking addition to India’s space ventures, will distinguish the nation as the world’s second, following the United States, to deploy a specialized astronomy observatory designed for the study of black holes and neutron stars within our galaxy. This accomplishment underscores India’s growing prowess in space science and exploration on the global stage.