AstroSat: A Decade of Space Observation
AstroSat, India's first dedicated Space Astronomy Observatory, celebrated its 10th anniversary on September 28, 2025, marking a significant milestone in space research.
Launch and Mission Life
- Launched on September 28, 2015, by the PSLV-C30 (XL) rocket from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- Originally designed for a mission life of five years, it continues to operate, providing valuable data even after a decade.
Scientific Contributions
- AstroSat is a multi-wavelength space observatory with five payloads.
- Significant discoveries include:
- Observations from black holes to neutron stars.
- First-time detection of FUV photons from galaxies 9.3 billion light-years away.
- Insights across the electromagnetic spectrum from UV/Visible to high-energy X-rays.
Payloads Onboard
- Five scientific payloads to observe various regions of the electromagnetic spectrum:
- Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT)
- Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC)
- Cadmium–Zinc–Telluride Imager (CZTI)
- Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT)
- Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM)
Collaborative Efforts
- Developed by ISRO with contributions from major Indian astronomy institutions:
- Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Mumbai
- Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP) and Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru
- Involvement of universities in India and institutions from Canada and the UK.
