Days after India’s successful launch of its inaugural X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) for the study of black holes and neutron stars, Astrophysics Professor Karan Jani, based in the United States, expressed his admiration, stating that India’s leadership in various aspects of space science is highly inspiring. Jani, affiliated with Vanderbilt University, emphasized the significance of India’s contributions to black hole research, citing the LIGO India project, XPoSat, and its recent involvement in the square kilometre array. He underscored India’s role as a key player in the exciting era of black hole exploration, expressing pride in the country’s advancements.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) marked the beginning of the year with the successful launch of XPoSat, dedicated to studying X-ray emissions from celestial sources. ISRO chief S Somanath confirmed the satellite’s precise placement into a 650 km orbit, heralding India’s entry into black hole observation. The seven-year effort to build XPoSat reflects India’s commitment to fostering scientific expertise in the field, aiming to cultivate at least 100 scientists contributing to global knowledge about black holes.
The achievement comes on the heels of India’s notable accomplishments in 2023, including the successful Chandrayaan-3 soft landing on the moon’s south pole and the launch of Aditya-L1, the country’s maiden solar mission. These feats solidified India’s position in the global space arena and provided momentum to the burgeoning private space sector in the country.
Looking ahead, India has ambitious plans, including the Gaganyaan Mission slated for 2024-2025, the establishment of the ‘Bharatiya Antariksha Station’ by 2035, and the objective of sending the first Indian to the Moon by 2040.
