ISRO’s XPoSat satellite opened to Indian scientists: What is it?

**ISRO’s XPoSat Satellite Now Open for Indian Scientists: Here’s What You Need to Know**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 13, 2025, 07:53 PM*

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has officially opened its X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) mission for proposals from Indian scientists and researchers. This initiative offers a significant opportunity for the country’s astronomy community to engage with cutting-edge space technology.

**About XPoSat**

XPoSat operates in a near-equatorial orbit at an altitude of 650 km and is equipped with two scientific payloads designed to advance our understanding of cosmic X-ray sources. The mission aims to provide valuable data, especially through its XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload, which delivers spectroscopic and timing measurements in the 0.8-15 keV energy range.

**Observatory Time Reserved for Indian Researchers**

In this first observation cycle, ISRO has reserved 60% of XPoSat’s time exclusively for Indian researchers. The observation period spans from January to December 2026, allowing ample time for data collection and analysis with the XSPECT instrument. This move is set to give a major boost to India’s astronomical research capabilities.

**Who Can Apply?**

The call for proposals is open to Indian scientists and researchers affiliated with institutions, universities, and colleges across India who are working in the field of astronomy. Principal Investigators (PIs) must demonstrate the technical expertise required to analyze the data if their proposals are accepted.

**How to Submit Proposals**

Proposals should be submitted through the XPoSat Proposal Processing System (XPPS), available on the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) website. Interested candidates must ensure that their submissions are completed before the deadline on **November 30, 2025**.

**Evaluation Process**

Submitted proposals will be reviewed by the XPoSat Time Allocation Committee (XTAC), which will assess applications based on scientific merit and technical feasibility. To assist researchers, ISRO has provided comprehensive resources including the XSPECT User Handbook and the XPoViewer tool. These resources help applicants identify satellite visibility windows for their specific targets and prepare strong proposals.

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This opening of ISRO’s XPoSat mission to Indian researchers marks an exciting phase in India’s space science journey, encouraging greater participation in frontier astronomical research. Make sure to prepare your proposals carefully and take advantage of this unique opportunity!
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