Space tech startups set to launch payloads on ISRO's PSLV-C58 XPoSat Mission on Jan 1

In a significant development, space technology startups Dhruva Space, Bellatrix Aerospace, and TM2Space are poised to launch their payloads on the upcoming Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) - C58 XPoSat Mission of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on January 1, 2024.

The payloads will be accommodated on the PSLV Orbital Experimental Module (POEM-3) during the launch scheduled at 9.10am from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

This will be ISRO's first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite mission. Over its five-year lifespan, India's XPoSat mission will assess the orientation of vibrations in light waves, providing insights into the radiation mechanisms and geometry of celestial sources.

Dhruva Space, headquartered in Hyderabad, will showcase its LEAPTD (Launching Expeditions for Aspiring Technologies Technology Demonstrator), demonstrating microsatellite subsystems, Moneycontrol reported.

Whereas, Bellatrix Aerospace, based in Bengaluru, plans to launch two payloads, including the Rudra 0.3 HPGP green monopropellant thruster and ARKA 200, another thruster variant.

Satellite propulsion systems, commonly known as thrusters, serve as the engines responsible for maintaining satellites in orbit throughout their operational lifespan, typically between 10 and 15 years.