POEM-3 and XPoSat Mission

Category: Science & Technology

Why in the News?

• On March 21, 2024, ISRO marked another achievement as the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) concluded its mission by re-entering Earth's atmosphere. The PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission has practically left zero debris in orbit.

About POEM-3

• Initially launched on January 1, 2024, as part of the PSLV-C58/XPoSat mission, POEM-3 was repurposed from the PSLV's terminal stage to a stabilized platform for experimental payloads.
• Following successful deployment of nine experimental payloads, including six from non-governmental entities (NGEs), the module's altitude was intentionally lowered to ensure safe re-entry and impact into the North Pacific Ocean.
• This cost-effective platform provided opportunities for academia, startups, and NGEs to conduct space experiments, featuring innovations like electric thrusters and new avionics configurations.
• The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre spearheaded POEM's development, with ISRO's vigilant monitoring ensuring safe operations and orbital decay analysis.

About XPOSAT Mission

• ISRO's PSLV-C58 successfully launched the XPOSAT Satellite, marking a milestone with XPoSat, ISRO's inaugural scientific satellite dedicated to space-based X-ray polarisation measurements.

• Derived from the IMS-2 bus platform, XPoSat's configuration draws from IRS satellite heritage. It houses two payloads, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays) from Raman Research Institute and XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) from the Space Astronomy Group of URSC.
• The mission aims to measure X-ray polarisation and conduct spectral and temporal studies of cosmic sources within specific energy bands to advance understanding of celestial emissions.