Bangalore - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has begun the new year with the launch of its first scientific satellite to carry out research in space-based polarisation measurements of X-ray emission from celestial source, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) is the country's first mission to study black holes and neutron stars.

After a glorious 2023 with successful Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1 missions, the Indian space department is taking another historic step towards space exploration with this new mission.

ISRO chief S Somnath congratulated the scientists for a wonderful beginning of the new year. He confirmed that the solar panels of the satellite have been deployed and XPoSat is inclined at one of the most excellent conditions possible.

"So 1, January 2024, yet another successful mission of PSLV has been accomplished..." he said.

XPoSAT has been launched into an eastward low-inclination orbit, atop a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), as part of the PSLV-C58 mission, PSLV's 60th mission. The scientific satellite blasted off into space at 9:10 am IST on January 1, from First Launch Pad, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

The XPoSAT is the first mission, and the first orbital launch attempt of 2024, 60th PSLV mission and ISRO's 92nd mission overall. Two scientific payloads onboard XPoSAT will study interesting celestial objects such as neutron stars, active galactic nuclei, nebulae, and black holes.