India Launches Satellites to Study Black Hole

India starts the new year by launching a dedicated satellite to study black holes. Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) on 1st January 2023. In 2021, the United States of America (USA) became the first country to send a dedicated satellite to study black holes. That satellite was named Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE). 

A black hole is an object in space where the gravity is so high that even light cannot get out. XPoSat will study the X-rays that are released by black holes and other celestial objects. 

The rocket carrying the satellite was launched from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. It carries two science instruments- Polix (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) and Xspect (X-ray spectroscopy and timing).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the social media platform X to congratulate ISRO. The chairman of ISRO, S Somanath, described this launch as a “New Year gift to all of us”. He announced that ISRO is planning on launching twelve to fourteen space missions this year.