Astrosat

Astrosat

Operator	ISRO
COSPAR ID	2015-052A
SATCAT no.	40930
Website	http://astrosat.iucaa.in/
Mission duration	5 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass	1,650 kg (3,640 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	September 28, 2015 (2015-09-28)
Rocket	PSLV-XL
Launch site	Satish Dhawan Space Centre First Launch Pad
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Near-equatorial
Semi-major axis	7020 km
Perigee	643.5 km
Apogee	654.9 km
Inclination	6.0°
Period	97.6 min
Main
Wavelengths	Far Ultraviolet to Hard Xray
Instruments
UltraViolet imaging telescope (UVIT) Soft X-ray telescope (SXT) LAXPC CZTI

Astrosat is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory. It was launched on a PSLV-XL on 28 September 2015.

After the success of the satellite-borne Indian X-ray Astronomy Experiment (IXAE), which was launched in 1996, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) approved further development for a full-fledged astronomy satellite, Astrosat, in 2004.

A number of astronomy research institutions in India, and abroad have jointly built instruments for the satellite. Important areas requiring coverage include studies of astrophysical objects ranging from nearby solar system objects to distant stars and objects at cosmological distances; timing studies of variables ranging from pulsations of hot white dwarfs to those of active galactic nuclei can be conducted with Astrosat as well, with time scales ranging from milliseconds to days.

Astrosat is a multi-wavelength astronomy mission on an IRS-class satellite into a near-Earth, equatorial orbit. The five instruments on board cover the visible (320–530 nm), near UV (180–300 nm), far UV (130–180 nm), soft X-ray (0.3–8 keV and 2–10 keV) and hard X-ray (3–80 keV and 10–150 keV) regions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Astrosat was successfully launched on 28 September 2015 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on board a PSLV-XL vehicle at 10:00AM.

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