AstroSat – India’s First Space-Based Astronomy Observatory

 AstroSat – India’s First Space-Based Astronomy Observatory

Context

• On 28 September 2025, AstroSat completed 10 years of operation.

• Launched on 28 September 2015 by PSLV-C30 (XL configuration) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.

• Designed life: 5 years → Extended performance: 10 years (still operational).

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Key Features

• India’s first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory.

• Observes simultaneously in UV, Visible, Low & High energy X-ray regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

• Comparable to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope (UV/optical) and ESA’s XMM-Newton (X-ray).

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Payloads (Five)

1. UVIT (Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope) – UV observations.

2. LAXPC (Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter) – high time-resolution X-ray observations.

3. CZTI (Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride Imager) – hard X-ray studies, polarisation of X-rays.

4. SXT (Soft X-ray Telescope) – low-energy X-ray imaging and spectroscopy.

5. SSM (Scanning Sky Monitor) – detects transient X-ray sources.

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Major Achievements

• Study of black holes, neutron stars, Proxima Centauri.

• First-time detection of far-ultraviolet (FUV) photons from galaxies 9.3 billion light years away.

• Insights into star formation, supernova remnants, binary star systems, and active galactic nuclei.

• Helped in multi-institutional global collaboration in astronomy.

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Collaborative Institutions

• ISRO (lead).

• Indian partners: Inter-University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA), Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Raman Research Institute (RRI), various universities.

• International partners: Canada (CSA), UK.

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Significance for India

• Strengthened India’s presence in space science & astrophysics.

• Provided indigenous capability for high-quality space-based astronomy.

• Supported scientific capacity building by engaging Indian universities and research institutes.

• Contributed to global datasets for astronomers worldwide.

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✅ UPSC Pointers:

• Year of launch: 2015.

• Vehicle: PSLV-C30 (XL).

• Significance: First multi-wavelength observatory.

• Designed life: 5 years, operational 10+ years.

• Payloads: UVIT, LAXPC, CZTI, SXT, SSM.

• Institutions involved: IUCAA, TIFR, IIA, RRI + foreign partners.

• Key discovery: Detection of FUV photons from galaxies 9.3 billion light years away.