[Geo4All] India welcomes 2024 with the launch of XPoSat to help unravel Universe's Big Mystery

Sat Jan 6 12:33:39 PST 2024

Dear colleagues

India’s spacecraft Aditya L-1 launched on 2nd September 2023 has today reached final orbit between Earth and Sun on mission to unravel ‘solar mysteries’. The spacecraft successfully entered into a halo orbit around Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1) at 4pm India time on 6th January 2024. The spacecraft will study the solar atmosphere, solar magnetic storms, and their impact on the environment around the Earth.

The probe carries with it seven scientific payloads developed by ISRO and a number of domestic research institutes, including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, and the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune.

Using data from the payloads, scientists will study the Sun’s different layers including its photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost corona layer, providing insights into the effect of solar radiation on satellites in orbit. Previous studies have shown that energy particles emitted by the Sun in the form of solar storms can hit satellites circling Earth, sometimes causing communication blackouts.

Since various forms of radiation do not reach the surface of the Earth, they cannot easily be studied by instruments on the planet’s surface. However, such studies can be carried out in space, using satellites far outside the Earth’s atmosphere.

Details at https://www.independent.co.uk/space/india-sun-mission-aditya-isro-l1-b2474188.html

Nigar Shaji, the woman behind Aditya L-1 mission

https://www.theweek.in/news/sci-tech/2024/01/06/who-is-nigar-shaji-the-woman-behind-aditya-l-1-mission.amp.html

Details of key major science objectives of Aditya-L1 mission at https://www.isro.gov.in/Aditya_L1.html

Best wishes

Suchith

________________________________
From: Suchith Anand <Suchith.Anand at nottingham.ac.uk>
Sent: 02 January 2024 12:33
Subject: India welcomes 2024 with the launch of XPoSat to help unravel Universe's Big Mystery

Dear colleagues,

Happy New Year!

India welcomes 2024 with the successful launch of  X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat), the second global polarimetric observatory after NASA's IXPE in 2021. Congratulations to all scientists at ISRO for the successful launch of XPoSat. It was launched from Sriharikota spaceport in India at 09:10 local time (03:40GMT) on 1st January 2024.

XPoSat stands at the forefront of space and astronomical exploration and will benefit the global scientific community. It follows on the success of AstroSat - India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space telescope launched in 2015.

Details at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-67837066

https://www.isro.gov.in/XPoSat.html

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/imaging-x-ray-polarimetry-explorer-ixpe/

6 startups and academic institutions are flying their payloads on the PSLV Orbital Experiment Platform (POEM) , which is carrying 10 payloads in total. One of the experiments of the PSLV Orbital Experiment Platform (POEM) is Women Engineered Satellite (WESAT), developed by a team of 42 women students in collaboration with their teachers Dr. Sumithra and Dr. Reshmi at LBS Institute of Technology for Women, Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala  to study UV radiation in the atmosphere.

Details at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esCiNq9El1Q

It is important to thank all women scientists who took India into space (from India’s Mars mission to Moon mission to Sun mission)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-38253471.amp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVNK5tiCTjo&t=0s

The launch of XPoSat builds upon the excellent work of ISRO in 2023 - Chandrayaan, Aditya-L1, Gaganyaan: The year India reached the Moon - and aimed for the Sun

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-67769454

ISRO  has several missions including Mangalyaan 2 (Mars), Shukrayaan 1 (Venus), Gaganyaan lined up for 2024. Details at

https://analyticsindiamag.com/isros-missions-to-watchout-for-in-2024/

>From humble beginnings in sheds (the equipments were carried in a bicycle and a bullock cart!) to becoming the first country to land near the South Pole on the Moon, to missions to Mars , India's space journey is an epic tale of ingenuity and resourcefulness.  Story of India’s amazing space journey at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL94XhNbwQ4

India’s space mission will inspire millions of students from all over the world (including students from economically poor backgrounds in the Global South) to STEM education and space science education.

India’s idea of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ is resonating across the world. This human-centric approach has been welcomed by all. India’s space mission is also based on this principle. India’s success belongs to all of humanity.

I wish you all a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful, Productive and Prosperous New Year 2024.

Best wishes

Suchith

Dr Suchith Anand

Senior Adviser to Governments and International Organisations | Scientist | AI Ethics | AI Governance | Policy | Consultant in Data and AI Ethics | Global Citizen | SDG Volunteer and Advocate

https://council.science/profile/suchith-anand/

https://www.rd-alliance.org/users/suchith-anand

https://ethicaldatainitiative.org<https://ethicaldatainitiative.org/>

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