Astrosat, India’s First Space Observatory

AstroSat, India’s first dedicated space-based astronomy observatory, has completed 10 years in orbit since its launch on September 28, 2015.

What is a Space Observatory?

  • A space observatory is a satellite-based telescope that observes celestial objects beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
  • It helps scientists study light from distant stars, galaxies, black holes, and cosmic phenomena without interference from Earth’s atmosphere.
  • Examples: Hubble Space Telescope (NASA), Chandra X-ray Observatory, AstroSat (India).

About AstroSat

  • Launch Details: Launched on September 28, 2015 by PSLV-C30 from Sriharikota. Mission led by ISRO, designed for multi-wavelength observation.
  • Objective: To study the Universe across multiple wavelengths — from Ultraviolet (UV) to X-rays. To perform simultaneous observations of cosmic sources.
  • Payloads (Instruments):
    • Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) – studies high-energy X-ray sources like black holes.
    • Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) – focuses on soft X-ray sources.
    • Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) – tracks variable X-ray sources.
  • Collaboration
    • Joint effort of ISRO and top Indian research institutes like IUCAA, TIFR, IIA, RRI, and foreign partners from Canada and UK.

 

Major Achievements

  • Detected far-ultraviolet (FUV) photons from galaxies 9.3 billion light years away.
  • Studied black holes, neutron stars, and stellar explosions.
  • Observed Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to Earth.
  • Contributed significantly to high-energy astrophysics research.
  • Generated over 2,500 research papers and datasets used globally.

India’s Upcoming Space Observatory Projects

  • XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) – to study X-ray polarization from cosmic sources (launched in 2024).
  • Aditya-L1 – India’s first solar observatory, launched in 2023, studies solar corona and solar winds.
  • INSPIRESat Series – for atmospheric and space weather studies.
  • Future Plans – ISRO aims to build next-gen observatories for infrared and gravitational wave studies.

Global Context

  • India joins nations like the US, Europe, and Japan with advanced space observatories.
  • AstroSat’s success boosts India’s capacity for deep-space science missions.

Conclusion

AstroSat marks India’s entry into space-based astronomy, offering global scientists rich data on the universe. Its continued performance beyond its lifespan highlights India’s engineering excellence and growing role in space science research.

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