The XSPECT payload on ISRO's XPoSat, India's first X-ray polarimetric mission launched on January 1, 2024, captured its first light from the Cassiopeia A (Cas A) supernova remnant. XPoSat carries two co-aligned instruments, POLarimeter Instrument in X-rays (POLIX) and X-ray SPECtroscopy and Timing (XSPECT), aimed at unraveling the mysteries of cosmic X-ray sources.

While the POLIX instrument focuses on investigating X-ray polarization in medium-energy X-rays, the XSPECT payload engages in continuous and long-term spectral and temporal studies of X-ray sources in the soft X-ray band.

During its performance verification phase, XSPECT was directed towards Cassiopeia A, a standard celestial source used for instrument evaluation. The observation commenced on January 5, 2024, capturing the supernova remnant's emission lines corresponding to elements such as Magnesium, Silicon, Sulphur, Argon, Calcium, and Iron.

XSPECT payload is developed by the Space Astronomy Group of U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC)/ISRO, Bengaluru. The continuous observations facilitated by XSPECT's long-duration capabilities are anticipated to contribute significantly to our understanding of the universe's high-energy phenomena.

Watch the launch of PSLV-C58/XPoSat from Satish Dhawan Space Centre.