Context
India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, AstroSat, launched on September 28, 2015, by PSLV-C30, has successfully completed a decade of operations. Though designed for 5 years, it continues to provide vital astronomical data across the ultraviolet, visible, and X-ray spectrum.
Key Highlights
- Launch & Longevity
- Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C30 (XL variant).
- Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre (Sriharikota).
- Designed life: 5 years → still operational after 10 years.
- Scientific Achievements
- Multi-wavelength observations: UV, visible, low & high-energy X-ray.
- Major contributions:
- Studies of black holes, neutron stars, binary systems.
- Observation of Proxima Centauri (nearest star to the Sun).
- First detection of far-ultraviolet (FUV) photons from galaxies 9.3 billion light years away.
- Payloads (5 Instruments)
- UVIT (Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope): Imaging in UV & visible bands.
- LAXPC (Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter): High time-resolution X-ray observations.
- CZTI (Cadmium–Zinc–Telluride Imager): Hard X-ray imaging & polarization studies.
- SXT (Soft X-ray Telescope): Low-energy X-ray spectroscopy.
- SSM (Scanning Sky Monitor): Detection & monitoring of transient X-ray sources.
- Collaborative Effort
- Led by ISRO with support from:
- IUCAA, Pune
- TIFR, Mumbai
- Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru
- Raman Research Institute, Bengaluru
- Several Indian universities.
- International partnerships: Canada & UK.