India’s First Multi-Wavelength Space Astronomy Observatory

India’s pioneering multi-wavelength space observatory allows astronomers to observe the universe simultaneously in ultraviolet (UV), visible, soft X-ray, and hard X-ray bands. A collaborative initiative led by ISRO alongside premier Indian research institutes, the project also involves international partners from Canada and the UK.

Launch Details

• Date: 28 September 2015

• Launch Vehicle: PSLV-C30 (XL configuration)

• Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota

Objectives

• Enable simultaneous multi-band observations of celestial phenomena.

• Provide Indian astronomers with space-based capabilities, reducing reliance on foreign observatories.

• Contribute to global astronomy research via open access to scientists worldwide.

Payloads

1. Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT)

2. Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC)

3. Cadmium–Zinc–Telluride Imager (CZTI)

4. Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT)

5. Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM)

Key Discoveries & Contributions

• Resolved a puzzle about a red giant star’s unusual brightness.

• Detected far-UV photons from galaxies ~9 billion light years away.

• Observed extended emission of the Butterfly Nebula.

• Discovered fast-spinning black holes and studied X-ray binaries.

• Conducted X-ray polarization studies and captured galaxy mergers.

Significance

• Scientific Breakthroughs: Provided India with a world-class astronomy platform, advancing research on black holes, neutron stars, and galaxies.

• Capacity Building: Trained a new generation of Indian astronomers, with half of the observatory’s users being students and researchers from India.