CSIP: PRELIMS BOOSTER SERIES -194 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
ASTROSAT MISSION
What is Astrosat?
Astrosat is India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory. It was launched on 28 September 2015 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Astrosat carries five scientific instruments that can observe the Universe in different wavelengths of light.
Only the United States, European Space Agency, Japan and Russia have such observatories in space.
| Overview | |
| AstroSat Full
Form |
Astronomy Satellite |
| Mission Type | Space Observatory Mission – Astronomy Mission |
| Mission Objective | Objective is to study celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV
spectral bands simultaneously |
| Launch Date | September 28, 2015 |
| Launch Vehicle
(Rocket) |
PSLV-C30 |
| Launch Site | Satish Dhawan Space Center (SDSC), Sriharikota, Andhra
Pradesh. |
| Operator | Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) |
| Mission Duration | 5 Years |
FUNCTIONS
Its main function is to operate as a proposal-driven general purpose space observatory. Astrosat spacecraft would orbit Earth equatorially at 650 km and study.
- distant stars,
- galaxies,
- black holes and
- Other cosmic
The Astrosat payloads are:
Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT)
The UVIT is a multi-band imaging telescope. It can observe the Universe in the ultraviolet (UV) wavelength range. It is used to study a wide range of astronomical objects, including stars, galaxies, and black holes.
Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT)
The SXT is a focusing telescope that can observe the Universe in the soft X- ray wavelength range. It is used to study hot, energetic objects, such as black holes and neutron stars.
Large Area Soft X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC)
The LAXPC is a non-imaging instrument. It can observe the Universe in the soft X-ray wavelength range. It is used to study the emission from diffuse sources, such as the hot gas in galaxy clusters.
Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI)
The CZTI is a non-imaging instrument. It can observe the Universe in the hard X-ray and gamma-ray wavelength range. It is used to study the emission from the most energetic objects in the Universe, such as gamma- ray bursts and active galactic nuclei.
Indian X-ray Monitor (IXRM)
The IXRM is a non-imaging instrument. It can observe the Universe in the soft X-ray wavelength range. It is used to monitor the brightness of X-ray sources and to study the variability of these sources.
