Year Ender 2023: List of ISRO Missions in 2023

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has traced an unprecedented trajectory in 2023, commemorating a series of successes that have strengthened its position in the field of space exploration. ISRO's ability has shined through in seven more perfect launches, showing India's expanding capabilities in the celestial sphere, in addition to the colossal triumph of Chandrayaan-3.

In February, ISRO achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of SSLV-D2. The Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)'s second developmental flight demonstrated the vehicle's design elegance, built to propel tiny, micro, or nanosatellites into a 500 km planar orbit. The SSLV-D2 began a new era in satellite deployment, with a focus on low cost, quick turn-around time, and versatile launch capabilities.

ISRO's sixth consecutive success with LVM3 in March confirmed the organisation's steady efficiency. This mission, devoted to the OneWeb Group Company, put 36 satellites into their 450 km circular orbit. ISRO's perfect deployment bolstered OneWeb, a worldwide communication network funded by India's Bharti Enterprises, which aims to connect nations and communities.

April saw the completion of the Reusable Launch Vehicle Autonomous Landing Mission (RLV LEX) in Chitradurga, Karnataka. This test demonstrated ISRO's capacity to land space re-entry spacecraft independently and precisely, marking a significant advancement in reusable launch technology.

With its April launch, PSLV-C55/TeLEOS-2 represented ISRO's dedication to global partnerships via NewSpace India Limited (NSIL). This mission, which carried the TeLEOS-2 Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite and the Lumelite-4, embodied the "Integrate, Transfer, and Launch" philosophy, demonstrating ISRO's agility and skill.

An important component of India's Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) services, the NVS-01 navigation satellite, was successfully launched in May by the GSLV-F12/NVS-01 vehicle. NVS-01 inaugurated a new era in navigation satellites with its cutting-edge features and indigenous technology.

India's third lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, made history in July with its historic launch. The controlled landing of the Vikram lander near the lunar South Pole cemented India's reputation as a pioneering lunar explorer. Furthermore, the July launch of PSLV-C56, carrying the DS-SAR satellite, a collaborative effort catering to Singapore's imaging requirements, highlighted ISRO's global collaborations.

Aditya L1, India's first solar exploration mission, was launched in September. This mission, which will be in a halo orbit around Lagrange point 1, will provide unprecedented insights into solar activity, contributing greatly to our understanding of space weather dynamics.

ISRO's accomplishments in 2023 demonstrate India's dedication to space exploration, innovation, and global collaboration, paving the path for a bright future in the cosmic frontier. This is not it because the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is planning another daring X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) mission later this month, following the success of the Chandrayaan 3 mission and the successful launch of India's first solar observation mission, Aditya L1, earlier this year.

ISRO will also launch a series of space exploration missions next year, aiming to advance India's understanding of space. Let us have a look at the upcoming X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat):

What exactly is an X-ray Polarimeter Satellite?

The Indian Space Research Organization developed the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite to investigate the polarisation of cosmic X-rays. It will be launched using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Launch date

The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite is set to launch on December 28, 2023. This expedition will look into the polarisation of cosmic X-rays.

Purpose of X-ray Polarimeter Satellite

This satellite will be used to observe pulsars, X-ray binaries involving black holes, active galactic nuclei, and non-thermal supernova leftovers for at least five years.

Payloads aboard X-ray Polarimeter Satellite

The satellite will be equipped with two payloads: a primary scientific payload called Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX) and a secondary payload called X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing (XSPECT).

Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX)

POLIX will investigate the polarisation degree and angle of bright astronomical X-ray sources. The Raman Research Institute-developed POLIX payload will test polarimetry characteristics in orbit.

ISRO began work on the XPoSat project in September 2017 with a $95,000,000 grant. By September 2018, the crew had completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) of the XPoSat, which included the POLIX payload. Following the creation of the conceptual blueprint, ISRO commenced work on the POLIX Qualification Model and the manufacture of Flight Model components. POLIX will observe and record data from approximately 40 bright astronomical sources.

X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing (XSPECT)

XSPECT, created by the Space Astronomy Group, will measure spectroscopic information and soft X-ray timing. This payload is intended for soft X-ray timing investigations. The primary goal of this payload is to study the long-term behaviour of X-ray sources by correlating temporal parameters with spectral state changes and emission line fluctuations. XSPECT will investigate and collect data from X-ray pulsars, blackhole binaries, and low-magnetic field neutron stars (NS) in LMXBs, AGNs, and Magnetars.