AstroSat

• In an astronomical feat, India’s first multi-wavelength space telescope, AstroSat, has successfully detected its 600th Gamma-ray Burst (GRB), an event named GRB 231122B.

ABOUT ASTROSAT

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched AstroSat in September 2015.
• It is the first dedicated Indian astronomy mission aimed at studying celestial sources in X-ray, optical and UV spectral bands simultaneously.
• The payloads cover the energy bands of Ultraviolet (Near and Far), limited optical and X-ray regime (0.3 keV to 100keV).
• AstroSat with a lift-off mass of 1515 kg was launched into a 650 km near-equatorial orbit inclined at an angle of 6 deg to the equator by PSLV-C30 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
• The minimum useful life of the AstroSat mission is expected to be 5 years.
• After injection into Orbit, the two solar panels of AstroSat were automatically deployed in quick succession.
• The spacecraft control centre at Mission Operations Complex (MOX) of ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC), Bengaluru manages the satellite during its entire mission life.
• The science data gathered by five payloads of AstroSat are telemetered to the ground station at MOX.
• Five payloads-
  • Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) consists of two identical telescopes of aperture 380 mm.
  • Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC), developed by TIFR has three identical gas detectors. LAXPC has a total effective area of 8000 cm2.
  • Cadmium–Zinc–Telluride Imager (CZTI), developed by TIFR works in 20–100 keV.
  • Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), developed by TIFR, uses X-ray reflecting mirrors and an X-ray CCD for imaging and spectral studies in 0.3–8 keV.
  • Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) developed by ISRO is an all sky monitor for detecting and monitoring transient sources.

ABOUT GAMMA-RAY BURSTS

• Gamma-ray bursts are the universe’s most powerful explosions, often associated with the creation of black holes.
• These bursts emit immense amounts of energy in a short span, ranging from milliseconds to several minutes, and are considered among the brightest events in the cosmos.
• Understanding these bursts is crucial for astronomers as they provide insights into the most extreme environments and the fundamental physics that govern the universe.