Why in the news?

• Astrosat mission, India’s first Space observatory completes 10 years.

Astrosat Mission

• What is it?:
  • ASTROSAT is India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, launched by ISRO in 2015 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (Sriharikota) using the PSLV-C30.
  • It marked India’s entry into the league of space observatories like NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and ESA’s XMM-Newton, but at a much lower cost.
• Objectives of the Mission:
  • To study celestial sources in multiple wavelengths (X-ray, Ultraviolet, Visible light).
  • To understand high-energy processes in binary star systems, star birth regions, supernovae, and active galactic nuclei.
  • To perform a sky survey in the ultraviolet region.
  • To monitor variability of cosmic sources over a wide range of timescales.
• Payloads:
  • UVIT (Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope):
    • Operates in far UV, near UV, and visible bands.
    • High-resolution imaging of star-forming regions, galaxies, nebulae.
  • LAXPC (Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter):
    • Studies time variability of X-ray sources.
    • Useful for detecting neutron stars, black holes, and X-ray binaries.
  • SXT (Soft X-ray Telescope): Provides spectra and images in the soft X-ray region.
  • CZTI (Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager):
    • Hard X-ray detection (10–100 keV).
    • Also helps in Gamma-ray burst studies and polarization measurements.
  • SSM (Scanning Sky Monitor): Monitors and detects transient X-ray sources.
• Achievements:
  • Detected ultraviolet light from galaxies beyond the Milky Way.
  • Contributed to the discovery of highly variable X-ray sources.
  • Helped in the study of gamma-ray bursts and black hole candidates.
  • Produced multi-wavelength simultaneous data, rare in global astronomy.
  • Its CZTI instrument helped detect gravitational wave events (by studying associated gamma-ray bursts).
• Significance:
  • Boosted India’s space-based astronomy capability.
  • Allowed Indian scientists access to a multi-wavelength observatory at affordable cost.
  • Helped in capacity building for future space telescopes (e.g., ISRO’s proposed XPoSat, Aditya-L1, etc.).
  • Promoted international collaboration, with participation from Canadian, UK, and US institutions.