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AstroSat

AstroSat is India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space observatory, designed to observe celestial sources simultaneously across X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical spectral bands.^[1] Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on 28 September 2015 aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C30) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, the spacecraft has a mass of 1,513 kg and operates in a low Earth orbit at 650 km altitude with a 6° inclination.^[2] The mission's primary objectives include broadband spectroscopic studies of astronomical objects, monitoring X-ray sky transients, and conducting sky surveys in hard X-ray and UV bands to advance understanding of high-energy phenomena such as black holes, neutron stars, and galaxy formation.^[1] AstroSat carries five main scientific payloads: the Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) for far-UV to near-UV and optical imaging; the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) for 0.3–8 keV observations; the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) for 3–80 keV timing and spectral studies; the Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) for 10–150 keV hard X-ray detection; and the Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) for all-sky X-ray monitoring.^[1] These instruments enable simultaneous multi-wavelength observations, a capability that distinguishes AstroSat from earlier single-band missions and supports time-domain astrophysics by capturing variable sources in real-time.^[3] The observatory's data is archived at the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) and has been utilized by over 3,400 registered users from 57 countries worldwide, fostering collaborations across more than 130 Indian institutions.^[4] As of November 2025, AstroSat has exceeded its planned five-year mission life, completing a decade of operations with all payloads fully functional and continuing to yield significant scientific contributions.^[4] Notable achievements include the detection of extreme ultraviolet light from the distant galaxy AUDFs01, located 9.3 billion light-years away, providing insights into early universe star formation, and the measurement of X-ray polarization from the Crab Nebula, enhancing models of pulsar wind nebulae.^[3] The mission has produced over 500 research publications and played a pivotal role in popularizing space-based astrophysics in India, paving the way for future observatories like XPoSat.^[4]

Overview and Objectives

Mission Overview

AstroSat is India's first dedicated astronomy satellite, designed as a multi-wavelength space observatory to study celestial sources simultaneously in X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical spectral bands.^[2] Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on September 28, 2015, aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C30) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, the 1,513 kg spacecraft marked a significant milestone in India's space-based astronomical endeavors.^[5] Positioned in a low Earth orbit at an altitude of 650 km with a 6° inclination to the equator, AstroSat's configuration allows for broad coverage of the sky and coordinated observations across its instruments, enabling detailed analysis of cosmic phenomena like black holes, neutron stars, and galaxies.^[6] The mission was originally planned for a minimum operational life of 5 years but has exceeded expectations, remaining fully functional beyond 10 years as of September 28, 2025, with ongoing extensions supported by efficient resource management.^[2]^[4] Developed at a cost of approximately ₹178 crore, AstroSat represents a cost-effective platform that provides Indian and international astronomers with unprecedented access to multi-wavelength data.^[7] Its unique capability as the nation's inaugural mission for simultaneous sky observations in multiple wavelengths has facilitated over a decade of high-impact research, complementing global observatories.^[2]

Scientific Objectives

AstroSat's primary scientific objectives center on conducting simultaneous multi-wavelength observations across ultraviolet, optical, and X-ray bands to perform timing, spectral, and imaging studies of cosmic sources, particularly to elucidate accretion processes around compact objects such as neutron stars and black holes.^[8] These investigations aim to probe high-energy emission mechanisms in various astrophysical systems, including binary star systems and extragalactic sources, by analyzing variability on timescales from microseconds to days.^[9] For instance, the mission targets phenomena like quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs), pulsations, and bursts in X-ray binaries to understand the dynamics of matter inflow and outflow.^[10] Key targeted phenomena include high-energy processes in low-mass X-ray binaries containing neutron stars or black holes, transient events such as gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and new X-ray sources, as well as the evolution of stars, galaxies, and clusters through UV imaging of star-forming regions.^[3] The mission seeks to detect and study stellar-mass black holes via limited surveys in the galactic plane and measure magnetic fields of neutron stars through cyclotron line features in spectra.^[9] Additionally, it addresses broader questions in high-energy astrophysics, such as the nature of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) and supernova remnants (SNRs), by combining data across a wide energy range from 0.3 keV to 150 keV.^[8] Secondary objectives encompass all-sky monitoring for transient X-ray sources to enable rapid follow-up observations, polarization measurements of high-energy emissions from GRBs and bright sources in the 100–300 keV band, and detection of charged particles to safeguard instrument performance during high-radiation passages.^[9] These goals support the detection of new transients and the study of their polarization properties, which provide insights into emission geometries.^[8] The multi-wavelength synergy of AstroSat allows for unprecedented simultaneous coverage from far-ultraviolet to hard X-rays using co-aligned instruments, enabling correlated analyses of time variations and spectral features that reveal the physical connections between different emission components—capabilities not feasible with single-band observatories.^[10] This approach facilitates comprehensive modeling of accretion disks, shocks, and relativistic jets, enhancing understanding of high-energy astrophysical processes beyond what isolated wavelength studies can achieve.^[3]

Development and Design

Historical Background

The concept of AstroSat emerged in July 1996, when P. C. Agrawal, inspired by the successful performance of the Indian X-ray Astronomy Experiment (IXAE) aboard the IRS-P3 satellite launched earlier that year, proposed a dedicated multi-wavelength astronomy satellite to the Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).^[11] This proposal aimed to build on IXAE's X-ray observations by enabling simultaneous measurements across X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical wavelengths to study high-energy astrophysical phenomena.^[12] In response, ISRO convened a brainstorming meeting with the Indian astronomy community, leading to the formation of two Working Groups in July 1996 to outline scientific objectives and instrument requirements.^[11] The Working Groups submitted their reports in 1998, securing initial conceptual approval from ISRO and paving the way for a detailed project proposal.^[11] This proposal was formally reviewed and endorsed by the Space Commission on September 20, 2000, initiating the project with the release of first development funds to the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), which provided scientific leadership.^[11] The Government of India granted final approval in October 2004, following the preparation of a comprehensive Project Report; a dedicated Project Director was appointed in 2003 to coordinate efforts under ISRO's management.^[11] Funding was primarily provided through ISRO's budget, supporting the collaboration between government agencies and academic institutions like TIFR.^[11] Key development milestones included the completion of the science payloads' developmental phase by TIFR scientists in April 2009, marking the start of payload integration for the 1,515 kg spacecraft.^[13] Full spacecraft assembly was achieved in May 2015 at the ISRO Satellite Centre, after which environmental testing commenced in preparation for launch. The project faced significant challenges, particularly with the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), where India's limited expertise in UV mirror polishing and photon-counting detectors caused delays; these were mitigated through international collaborations initiated in 2010, including contributions from the Canadian Space Agency for UVIT's detector system and the University of Leicester for the Soft X-ray Telescope's focal plane camera.^[11] Overall, the development spanned from 2003 to the satellite's launch on September 28, 2015, aboard a PSLV-C30 rocket.^[11]

Spacecraft Configuration

AstroSat is built on the Indian Mini Satellite-2 (IMS-2) bus platform developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), featuring a modular cuboid structure with a central titanium frame, payload deck, and service module. The spacecraft has a launch mass of 1,515 kg, including a main bus mass of 660.2 kg and payloads totaling 854.8 kg, with overall dimensions of 1.96 m × 1.75 m × 1.30 m prior to solar panel deployment.^[14]^[2] Two deployable solar array wings extend the structure during orbit, enabling multi-wavelength observations from a 650 km low Earth orbit.^[15] The power subsystem relies on two wing assemblies, each consisting of two rigid panels measuring 1.4 m × 1.8 m and equipped with advanced triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells, generating up to 2 kW of electrical power under nominal conditions.^[14] Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, with a capacity sufficient for eclipse durations of up to 20 minutes per orbit, ensure uninterrupted operations during periods of solar eclipse, including rare lunar shadow events.^[16] The system includes power conditioning and distribution units to regulate voltage and current for the bus and payloads, with redundancy for critical components.^[3] Attitude and orbit control is achieved through a three-axis stabilization system, utilizing two star sensors for precise attitude determination, three fiber-optic gyros for rate sensing, four reaction wheels for fine pointing, and eight 11 N hydrazine thrusters for coarse maneuvers and momentum dumping via magnetic torquers.^[3]^[17] This configuration provides a pointing accuracy of 0.05° (3σ) in each axis, equivalent to approximately 180 arcseconds, with a drift rate below 0.2 arcseconds per second and jitter under 0.3 arcseconds for frequencies above 0.2 Hz.^[14] Orbit maintenance, including semi-major axis adjustments to counter atmospheric drag, is managed through ground-commanded thruster firings from the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network.^[18] Thermal management employs passive techniques, including multi-layer insulation blankets, surface coatings, and embedded heaters under closed-loop control, to maintain bus components within operational temperature ranges of -10°C to +40°C.^[3] Communication systems use S-band for telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) operations, supporting uplink rates of 2 kbps and downlink rates of 4 kbps via a unified transponder.^[19] Science data is transmitted via dual X-band carriers using a steerable phased-array antenna, achieving downlink rates of 105 Mbps per carrier for real-time and stored data, with a solid-state recorder capacity enabling up to 420 Gbits of daily storage before ground download.^[19] The spacecraft's modular architecture facilitates integration of five co-aligned primary payloads and auxiliary units like the Charged Particle Monitor, with dedicated interfaces for power, data handling, and mechanical mounting on the payload deck to ensure alignment within 1 arcminute.^[8] This design inherits reliability from prior IRS-series missions while incorporating astronomy-specific redundancies in the bus management unit for autonomous fault recovery.^[3]

Payload Instruments

Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT)

The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) is a key payload on AstroSat, designed for high-resolution imaging in the ultraviolet and visible bands to study stellar evolution, active galactic nuclei, and transient events. It features two co-aligned Ritchey-Chrétien telescopes, each with a 38 cm aperture and a focal length of approximately 4750 mm, enabling simultaneous observations across three spectral channels: far-ultraviolet (FUV, 130–180 nm), near-ultraviolet (NUV, 200–300 nm), and visible (VIS, 320–550 nm). The field of view is about 28 arcminutes in diameter for all channels, providing wide-area coverage suitable for surveys and targeted studies.^[20]^[21]^[22] UVIT achieves an angular resolution of 1.8 arcseconds in the FUV and NUV channels and approximately 2.5 arcseconds in the VIS channel, enabling detailed photometry, astrometry, and imaging of point sources down to magnitudes around 24 AB in typical exposures. The instrument supports precise flux measurements through selectable filters in each channel, such as CaF₂ and BaF₂ for FUV, and silica-based options for NUV, allowing broadband imaging and limited slitless spectroscopy with a resolution of about 100. Astrometric accuracy reaches ~0.5–1.5 arcseconds after corrections for satellite drift. UVIT was developed primarily by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru, in collaboration with the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), which provided the intensified CMOS detectors for enhanced sensitivity in low-light conditions.^[22]^[23]^[21]^[24] In operation, UVIT conducts pointed observations with maximum exposure times up to 40 kiloseconds per target, accumulating data through rapid framing at rates of 30–200 frames per second depending on the field size and mode (photon-counting or integration). This allows for drift compensation during exposures, as the satellite's aspect can vary by up to 1 arcdegree. The instrument generates data at rates up to several Mbps for full-field imaging, with a maximum of about 10 Gbits per orbit for combined FUV and NUV channels, supporting efficient downlink to ground stations. Unique to UVIT is its cylindrical baffle system, which rejects stray light by a factor of 10⁹ for off-axis angles greater than 45 degrees, minimizing contamination from Earth's atmosphere and bright sources. The detectors are maintained at operational temperatures between 0°C and 20°C via passive thermal control, ensuring low noise and stable performance throughout the mission.^[8]^[21]^[25]^[21]

Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT)

The Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) on AstroSat is a focusing instrument designed for high-resolution imaging, spectroscopy, and timing of celestial sources in the soft X-ray band. It employs a Wolter-I configuration with 41 concentric gold-coated aluminum foil mirrors forming an aperture of approximately 35 cm in diameter and a focal length of 2 m, directing X-rays onto a back-illuminated e2V CCD-22 detector with 600 × 600 pixels of 40 μm size. The system operates over an energy range of 0.3–8.0 keV and provides a field of view of about 40 arcmin.^[26]^[27]^[28] Key capabilities include spatial resolution of ~15 arcsec on-axis (with a point spread function of 2 arcmin FWHM), energy resolution of 90 eV at 1.5 keV and 136 eV at 5.9 keV, and an effective area of ~90 cm² at 1.5 keV, enabling detection of sources down to ~10⁻¹³ erg cm⁻² s⁻¹ (5σ in 20,000 s). The telescope supports multi-wavelength synergy within AstroSat by providing focused soft X-ray data that complements broader-band observations. Developed by a consortium led by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) and the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), with contributions from institutions like the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), SXT represents India's first grazing-incidence X-ray optic.^[26]^[29]^[28] In operation, SXT offers several readout modes via its CCD: photon counting for event-by-event analysis in full-frame imaging at a 2.4 s cadence, fast windowed mode (150 × 150 pixels) for 0.278 s timing resolution, and calibration modes using onboard radioactive sources. The pixel scale is 4.13 arcsec, supporting precise astrometry with 30 arcsec accuracy. To ensure detector longevity, the CCD is thermoelectric-cooled to ~–80°C (191 K) to minimize dark current and noise, while a proton shield encases the focal plane camera assembly to protect against high-energy particles, and a thermal baffle enforces a minimum 45° Sun avoidance angle. A deployable door mechanism safeguards the optics and detector during launch and non-observing periods.^[26]^[28]^[29]

Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC)

The Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) is a payload instrument on the AstroSat satellite designed primarily for high time-resolution observations of hard X-ray sources in the 3–80 keV energy band. It consists of three co-aligned, identical xenon-filled proportional counters, each featuring a detection volume of 100 cm length with five layers of 12 anode cells (3 cm × 3 cm cross-section) surrounded by veto anodes for background rejection.^[30] Developed by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, the instrument provides a total effective area of approximately 6000 cm² in the 5–20 keV range, enabling sensitive timing and spectroscopic studies of variable X-ray phenomena such as pulsars and accreting binaries.^[30] Each LAXPC detector operates with xenon gas at about 2 atmospheres pressure mixed with methane, incorporating mechanical collimators—a window support collimator (7.5 cm height) and a field-of-view collimator (37 cm height)—that define a nominal field of view of ~1° × 1° (FWHM ~0.9° at low energies).^[31]^[30] The veto detectors, comprising three layers of smaller anode cells (1.5 cm × 1.5 cm) on three sides of the main volume, help reduce charged particle background by identifying and discarding events originating outside the primary detection region. This design supports moderate energy resolution, achieving ~20% at 6 keV and 10–15% around 20 keV, suitable for low-resolution spectroscopy of source continua and line features.^[31] In terms of capabilities, LAXPC excels in timing studies with a 10 µs time resolution for individual photon events, facilitated by an onboard System Time Based Generator (STBG) for precise timestamping and dead-time correction of ~42 µs per event.^[31] The instrument operates in event analysis mode, recording photon arrival times, energies, and layer information event-by-event for detailed variability analysis, or in binned counting mode for high-count-rate scenarios.^[31] An onboard gas purification system maintains detector performance over the mission lifetime, with independent electronics for each unit allowing continued operation even if one fails. These features position LAXPC as a key tool for probing rapid X-ray flux variations and coherent pulsations in the hard X-ray regime.

Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI)

The Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) is a hard X-ray payload on AstroSat designed for imaging and polarimetry in the 10–100 keV primary energy band, with extended sensitivity up to 150–200 keV depending on mode.^[32] It features a detector plane composed of 64 pixelated CdZnTe modules arranged in four independent quadrants, each quadrant containing a 4×4 array of modules, for a total geometric area of 1024 cm².^[32] Each module consists of a 16×16 array of 256 pixels, with individual pixel dimensions of approximately 2.5 mm × 2.5 mm and a detector thickness of 5 mm, enabling high spatial resolution detection of X-ray photons via direct conversion. The instrument was developed by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in collaboration with other Indian institutions.^[33] CZTI employs a coded-aperture mask technique for imaging, achieving an angular resolution of about 17 arcminutes and a primary field of view of 6° × 6° (FWHM) for 10–100 keV, expanding to 17° × 17° above 100 keV in open detector mode.^[32] Its pixelated architecture uniquely allows for Compton scattering-based polarimetry, measuring X-ray polarization up to 100 keV by analyzing the azimuthal distribution of scattered photons, with sensitivity to detect greater than 40% polarization at the 3σ level for bright sources. Additionally, above 100 keV, the instrument operates as an open detector without the mask, providing continuous monitoring of approximately 30% of the sky for transient events. In operation, CZTI supports multiple modes including spectroscopy for energy-resolved studies, polarimetry for probing magnetic fields in astrophysical sources, and dedicated Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) detection with enhanced sensitivity up to 200 keV and off-axis response extending to about 60° from the pointing axis, enabling localization to within 10°. A dedicated veto layer of CsI(Tl) scintillators surrounds the detector plane to suppress charged particle background, improving signal-to-noise for these modes. The pixelated design further facilitates on-board alpha-tagging for calibration using embedded 241Am sources at 60 keV.^[33]

Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) and Charged Particle Monitor (CPM)

The Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) serves as an auxiliary payload on AstroSat, dedicated to conducting all-sky surveys for transient X-ray sources in the soft X-ray regime. It features three position-sensitive proportional counters, each equipped with a one-dimensional coded mask patterned using Hadamard transforms or random slits to facilitate imaging through shadow analysis of incident X-rays. These counters, filled with a gas mixture, detect photon positions and energies by measuring induced charges on resistive anode wires, enabling the reconstruction of source locations without mechanical scanning beyond the platform's rotation.^[35]^[36] Operating in the energy range of 2–10 keV, the SSM provides a field of view of 10° × 90° (FWHM) per counter, with the three units oriented to cover overlapping strips for comprehensive sky mapping. The instrument scans the sky in a step-and-stare mode, where its rotating platform advances in 10° increments, dwelling for approximately 10 minutes per position to accumulate data, resulting in a scan rate of about 3° per orbit and full hemispheric coverage roughly four times daily. This configuration allows the SSM to detect and localize X-ray transients and persistent sources brighter than approximately 30 mCrab within 5-minute integrations, with sensitivity improving to around 1 mCrab for longer exposures suitable for monitoring outbursts.^[35]^[6]^[37] The Charged Particle Monitor (CPM) complements the SSM as another auxiliary instrument, focused on real-time assessment of the orbital radiation environment to safeguard AstroSat's primary payloads. It employs a compact scintillation detector consisting of a 10 × 10 × 10 mm³ CsI(Tl) crystal optically coupled to a silicon PIN photodiode, which converts particle-induced scintillation light into electrical signals via a charge-sensitive preamplifier; a thin Kapton window shields the assembly while maintaining a near-2π steradian field of view. The system discriminates events with a programmable electronic threshold starting at 0.5 MeV, achieving an effective sensitivity to protons above 1 MeV (nominally 1.2 MeV after window attenuation) and electrons above approximately 0.3 MeV, with 5-second integration times for flux measurements.^[38]^[39]^[40] Developed by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) in Mumbai, the CPM monitors particle count rates—typically 1 count per second outside high-radiation zones, peaking at up to 1000 counts per second in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA)—to trigger protective actions, such as reducing high voltages or powering down sensitive detectors during SAA passages lasting 15–20 minutes per orbit. This ensures operational integrity for instruments like LAXPC, SXT, and CZTI by preempting radiation-induced noise or damage.^[38]^[41] In tandem, the SSM and CPM enhance AstroSat's auxiliary monitoring capabilities: the SSM localizes X-ray sources across the sky for potential follow-up observations, while the CPM evaluates radiation hazards to maintain data quality from the main payloads, collectively supporting transient alert generation and mission longevity without overlapping core scientific functions.^[35]^[38]

Launch and Operations

Launch Sequence

AstroSat was launched on September 28, 2015, at 04:30 UTC (10:00 IST) aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C30) in its XL configuration from the first launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.^[42]^[2] The 320-tonne, 45-meter-tall rocket carried AstroSat as its primary payload, weighing 1,513 kg, along with six co-passenger satellites totaling 118 kg. Approximately 22 minutes after liftoff, the fourth stage injected AstroSat into a low Earth orbit of 644.6 km by 651.5 km altitude, inclined at 6 degrees to the equator—achieving the target 650 km circular orbit with an altitude error within 10 km.^[42]^[3] Following separation from the PSLV-C30 fourth stage at an altitude of approximately 650 km, AstroSat's two solar arrays were automatically deployed in quick succession to provide power, and the spacecraft's communication antennas were successfully extended.^[42]^[2] The Mission Operations Complex at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru immediately acquired telemetry signals via S-band, confirming nominal attitude control, thermal stability, and subsystem health during initial orbit-raising maneuvers and three-axis stabilization.^[42] These checks verified the spacecraft's structural integrity and power generation, with no major anomalies reported in the immediate post-separation phase.^[3] The commissioning phase began in early October 2015 with the sequential activation of the five scientific payloads. The Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) was the first to be powered on between October 6 and 11, followed by the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC), Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), and others over the subsequent weeks, including door openings and focal plane calibrations.^[3]^[25] The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) achieved first light on December 4, 2015, capturing sky images in far-ultraviolet, near-ultraviolet, and visible channels after outgassing and subsystem verification.^[43] By April 15, 2016, all payloads had completed performance verification, calibration, and optimization, transitioning AstroSat to full science operations.^[3] During commissioning, minor anomalies emerged, notably gain drifts in the LAXPC detectors due to temporal variations in high-voltage stability and environmental factors. These were addressed through periodic high-voltage adjustments and software updates to generate epoch-specific response matrices, restoring nominal energy resolution without impacting overall functionality.^[44]

Operational Timeline

Following the successful launch on September 28, 2015, AstroSat entered its initial performance verification phase, which concluded in April 2016, enabling the commencement of science operations on April 15, 2016.^[45] This marked the establishment of routine pointing mode, facilitating targeted multi-wavelength observations of celestial sources in ultraviolet, optical, and X-ray bands.^[3] The mission's early operations focused on in-orbit checkout and calibration of its five payloads, with initial science data acquisition prioritizing high-priority targets to validate instrument performance. In 2017, AstroSat opened its first cycle of guest observer proposals to international scientists, allocating observing time for the period from October 2017 to September 2018 and broadening participation beyond Indian institutions.^[46] This initiative supported a growing archive of observations, with subsequent announcement of opportunity cycles building on the mission's stable operational framework. By this stage, the spacecraft demonstrated reliable attitude control and thermal management in its 650 km low Earth orbit, achieving consistent data downlink rates through the Indian Space Science Data Centre. AstroSat exceeded its nominal five-year design life in September 2020, transitioning into an extended mission phase supported by robust spacecraft health and payload longevity.^[47] During 2018–2020, several recalibration efforts enhanced instrument accuracy, including timing offset adjustments for the Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) to refine spectral and temporal responses, and additional in-flight calibrations for the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) using standard stars to update detector sensitivities and flat-field corrections. Note that the UVIT's near-ultraviolet channel ceased operations in March 2018.^[48]^[49]^[50] The mission reached its 10-year milestone on September 28, 2025, with sustained high availability exceeding 87% for the preceding observing cycle, reflecting effective orbit maintenance and minimal downtime.^[4]^[51] By 2025, AstroSat had amassed over 5,000 targeted observations across diverse astronomical sources, with the data hosted at the Indian Space Science Data Centre. Periodic orbit adjustments compensated for atmospheric drag, preserving the spacecraft's operational altitude and pointing precision.

Current Status

As of November 2025, all major payloads aboard AstroSat continue to function effectively, enabling ongoing multi-wavelength observations of cosmic sources. The Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) operates at approximately 80% efficiency owing to gradual degradation from prolonged exposure and aging components over a decade in orbit, while the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) remains active in its far-ultraviolet and visible channels.^[2]^[52]^[3]^[50] The mission's overall performance remains robust, with the spacecraft sustaining a pointing accuracy of 20 arcseconds for precise target acquisition and a data downlink efficiency greater than 95% via X-band transmission to ground stations. Sufficient propellant reserves support orbit maintenance maneuvers, with projections indicating operational viability until at least 2028, well beyond the original five-year design life.^[3]^[2] Recent mission activities encompass the ongoing guest observer program, including solicitation of proposals for recent announcement of opportunity cycles to allocate observing time for international researchers, alongside ISRO-organized events commemorating the satellite's 10-year milestone in September 2025, which highlighted its enduring contributions to space astronomy.^[4] For mission conclusion, AstroSat's end-of-life disposition incorporates a controlled deorbiting strategy aligned with international space debris mitigation guidelines, ensuring the spacecraft's reentry minimizes risks to operational assets and complies with standards from bodies like the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.^[2]

Ground Support and Data Handling

Ground Facilities

The ground facilities for AstroSat are primarily managed by the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru, which serves as the central hub for satellite control, including attitude and orbit determination through continuous tracking and command uplink operations.^[53] The Satellite Control Centre (SCC) at ISTRAC oversees all mission phases, from launch support to in-orbit operations, ensuring real-time telemetry reception and anomaly resolution using redundant software systems for fault tolerance.^[3] Telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) data in the S-band, along with science payload data in the X-band, are received at a dedicated 11-meter antenna station located at the Indian Deep Space Network (IDSN) complex in Bylalu, near Bengaluru, which is collocated with the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC).^[18] This primary reception site supports data downloads during visible passes, supplemented by ISTRAC's global network of ground stations—including locations in Lucknow, Sriharikota, and international sites like Mauritius and Biak, Indonesia—for enhanced visibility and redundancy to minimize data gaps.^[53] X-band science data is transmitted via two phased-array antennas on the spacecraft to ensure reliable high-volume transfers, while S-band handles housekeeping and low-rate telemetry.^[16] Upon reception, raw data undergoes an automated processing pipeline at ISSDC, where Level-0 processing involves time correlation, segmentation, attitude filtering, and housekeeping corrections, generating quick-look products available within hours for preliminary analysis.^[54] Level-1 products, including calibrated event lists, light curves, spectra, and images for all instruments, are produced within days through further cleaning and instrument-specific calibrations, with all data archived long-term at ISSDC for public dissemination. Backup mechanisms include duplicate reception paths and software redundancies at ISTRAC to handle potential station outages or transmission errors, maintaining mission continuity.^[3]

AstroSat Support Cell

The AstroSat Science Support Cell (ASSC), hosted at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune, was established in 2015 as a joint initiative between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and IUCAA to provide scientific coordination and user support for the AstroSat mission following its launch.^[55] The cell's core responsibilities encompass soliciting observing proposals from the global astronomical community, assisting in observation planning through specialized tools, and offering resources for data analysis to enable effective utilization of AstroSat's multi-wavelength observations.^[56] ASSC oversees annual Announcement of Opportunity (AO) cycles, including Cycle 12 in 2023 and Cycle 14 spanning observations from October 2024 to September 2025, which facilitate proposal submissions via the AstroSat Proposal Processing System (APPS).^[51] It also coordinates calibration updates in collaboration with payload operation centers for instruments such as the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) and Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), ensuring ongoing accuracy in data processing.^[56] For data reduction, ASSC hosts and maintains instrument-specific software pipelines, including LAXPC software (version 3.4.3) for spectral and light curve extraction and UVIT data processing tools developed in collaboration with international partners.^[57] The cell supports a vibrant user community, having supported over 2,000 observation proposals from researchers worldwide through proposal guidance and help desk services.^[58] It conducts training workshops and webinars, such as the Advanced AstroSat Data Analysis workshop in June 2021, to build expertise in proposal preparation and data handling among researchers.^[55] Archival data access is provided via the Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) portal, where users can retrieve processed datasets after the proprietary period.^[59] As of September 2025, ASSC's efforts have facilitated more than 500 scientific publications stemming from AstroSat observations, bolstered by the mission's open data policy that releases datasets to the public after a one-year proprietary period for PIs.^[58]^[51] This policy has democratized access, enabling broader scientific contributions across high-energy astrophysics and multi-wavelength studies.

Participants and Collaborations

Indian Institutions

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) played the lead role in developing the AstroSat spacecraft bus and coordinating the launch, with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) handling launch vehicle integration and the ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC) managing satellite assembly, integration, and testing.^[6] The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) led the development of key science payloads, including the Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC), Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI), Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), and Charged Particle Monitor (CPM), while also overseeing overall science payload integration.^[60] The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) contributed to the SXT and served as the programme manager for the Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), in addition to establishing and operating the AstroSat Support Cell for data handling and user support.^[2] Other major contributors included the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), which developed the Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) in collaboration with ISRO; the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), responsible for UVIT optics and ground calibration; and the Space Applications Centre (SAC), which provided payload electronics and supporting systems.^[9] In total, eight Indian institutions participated in the mission, encompassing design, fabrication, testing, and scientific input from entities such as the Raman Research Institute (RRI) and others under coordinated national efforts.^[61] TIFR handled the integration of all science payloads with the spacecraft, ensuring compatibility and performance during pre-launch testing, while IUCAA manages the primary data center for archiving, processing, and distribution of observations.^[8] These institutions continue to support ongoing operations through calibration updates, proposal evaluations for observing time, and analysis of mission data to advance multi-wavelength astronomy research. Funding for AstroSat was primarily provided through ISRO's budget under the Department of Space, Government of India, supplemented by institutional grants from the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and other agencies to support academic and research contributions.^[2]

International Partners

The primary international collaboration for AstroSat involved the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the National Research Council Canada (NRC), who co-led the development of three sensitive microchannel plate detectors and associated software for the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) payload.^[24] This contribution, stemming from a 2004 contract between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the CSA, enhanced UVIT's capability to perform simultaneous imaging in far-ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet bands over a wide field of view, enabling detailed studies of high-energy cosmic phenomena such as young stars and black holes.^[3] The University of Calgary played a key role in the calibration and testing of these UVIT detectors in a vacuum laboratory environment.^[62] Additional technical inputs came from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom, which provided the charge-coupled device (CCD) camera for the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) payload, including measurements of its quantum efficiency to ensure optimal performance in the 0.3–8 keV energy range.^[26] NASA's High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC) provides mission information and supports high-energy astrophysics research that includes AstroSat data analysis.^[63] These partnerships were formalized through memoranda of understanding (MoUs), including a 2003 agreement between the CSA and ISRO that encompassed collaboration on the UVIT instrument for AstroSat, promoting joint technical development and data utilization.^[64] Subsequent arrangements established joint working groups focused on data sharing, instrument operations, and scientific analysis, ensuring seamless integration of international expertise into the mission.^[24] The international contributions significantly advanced AstroSat's ultraviolet and soft X-ray observational capacities, allowing for high-resolution imaging that has been pivotal in multi-wavelength studies of transient events and galactic structures.^[3] As of November 2025, these efforts have fostered extensive scientific collaboration, resulting in numerous joint publications from Canadian, British, and American researchers leveraging AstroSat data.^[4]^[24]

Scientific Results

Early Discoveries (2015–2018)

Following its launch in September 2015, AstroSat's commissioning phase in late 2015 and early 2016 enabled initial scientific observations, yielding foundational results in high-energy astrophysics and multi-wavelength astronomy by 2018. The satellite's payloads, including the Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) and Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC), provided sensitive detections of transient events, while the Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) and Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) contributed to imaging and spectral studies of stellar and galactic phenomena. These early outputs demonstrated AstroSat's capability for simultaneous broad-band coverage, addressing key objectives in transient monitoring and variability analysis.^[65] One of the earliest highlights was the detection of the gamma-ray burst GRB 170105A on January 5, 2017, which was missed by Swift but detected off-axis by Fermi. CZTI identified the event in the 100–200 keV band with a duration (T90) of approximately 2.86 seconds, confirming its gamma-ray origin and ruling out an unrelated optical afterglow candidate. LAXPC provided complementary soft X-ray coverage (3–80 keV), enabling flux and timing analysis that established the burst's isotropic energy at around 10^52 erg. This detection underscored CZTI's role in orphan GRB localization and AstroSat's effectiveness for off-axis transient alerts.^[65]^[66]^[67]^[68] In stellar astrophysics, UVIT observations revealed ultraviolet counterparts to blue straggler stars (BSSs) in the open cluster M67 during April 2017 exposures. Analysis of far-UV (130–180 nm) and near-UV (260–280 nm) photometry detected white dwarf companions to at least five bright BSSs, supporting mass-transfer formation channels over collisional mergers. The multi-wavelength spectral energy distributions (0.12–11.5 μm) showed excess UV emission consistent with hot subdwarfs, providing baselines for BSS evolution in old clusters. These findings highlighted UVIT's sensitivity to faint companions in crowded fields.^[69] AstroSat contributed to multi-wavelength studies of active stellar phenomena, including a superflare on Proxima Centauri observed on May 31, 2017. SXT detected a strong X-ray flare (0.3–3.0 keV) lasting about 1800 seconds, with peak flux increasing by over two orders of magnitude and total energy release of ~10^30 erg—far exceeding typical solar flares (10^26–10^28 erg). Coordinated with Chandra's LETGS and Hubble's FUV observations, the event revealed plasma temperatures up to 10^7 K and potential coronal mass ejection signatures through mass and energy loss estimates. This provided insights into flare-driven habitability challenges for Proxima b.^[70] Pulsar research advanced with CZTI's measurement of X-ray polarization from the Crab Pulsar on November 6, 2017, serving as a precursor to missions like IXPE. In the 100–380 keV band, the off-pulse emission showed a polarization fraction of 20.9 ± 5.0% aligned with the pulsar's spin axis, with phase-resolved variations indicating synchrotron origins in the nebula's toroidal field. The polarization angle swung by ~90° across low-brightness phases, revealing magnetic field structure inconsistencies with prior models. This was the first hard X-ray polarimetry of the Crab, validating CZTI's Compton scattering sensitivity.^[71]^[72] Galaxy cluster imaging progressed with joint SXT and UVIT observations of Abell 2256 in July 2018, capturing the merging system's structure over 800 million light-years away. UVIT's far-UV imaging (130–180 nm) resolved diffuse emission from intracluster medium and galaxies, while SXT mapped soft X-ray (0.3–8.0 keV) contours of hot gas, highlighting merger shocks and filaments. The combined data revealed UV excess from young stars in ram-pressure stripped tails, establishing baselines for diffuse emission studies in clusters. This observation demonstrated AstroSat's imaging synergy for extended sources.^[73]^[74] By 2018, AstroSat had produced approximately 50 refereed publications, with nearly 20 focused on black hole binaries, leveraging LAXPC's high time resolution (10 μs) to establish timing baselines for variability. Key works included analyses of GRS 1915+105's low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) at ~1–10 Hz during 2016 outbursts, confirming accretion disk instabilities, and 4U 1630-47's high-soft-state noise in 2018, with rms variability of 5–10% below 10 Hz. These results calibrated spectral-timing models for transient black hole states, influencing broader accretion physics interpretations.^[75]^[76]^[77]

Major Achievements (2019–2023)

During its extended operations from 2019 to 2023, AstroSat's Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) provided detailed timing analysis of the rare outburst from the Be/X-ray binary RX J0209.6-7427, revealing it as a new ultraluminous X-ray pulsar in the Magellanic Bridge with a spin period of approximately 9.25 seconds and super-Eddington luminosities exceeding 10^39 erg/s.^[78] This discovery highlighted the instrument's capability for high-time-resolution studies of transient sources, contributing to understanding accretion dynamics in isolated neutron star systems.^[79] AstroSat also advanced the study of thermonuclear bursts on neutron star surfaces in low-mass X-ray binaries during this period. Observations with LAXPC detected 12 type-I bursts from 4U 1636-53 between 2016 and 2019, but extended analyses in 2021 confirmed recurrence patterns and spectral evolution indicative of mixed H/He burning, with peak luminosities around 10^38 erg/s and durations of 10-20 seconds. Similarly, in 2022, LAXPC captured a rapid type-I burst from GX 3+1, lasting under 10 seconds with a rise time of ~1 second, providing insights into ignition mechanisms at high accretion rates. These results underscored the role of AstroSat in probing unstable nuclear burning regimes. In August 2020, the Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) on AstroSat detected extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) emission from the galaxy AUDFs01 at redshift z=1.42, corresponding to a distance of 9.3 billion light-years. The far-UV flux at observed wavelengths of 154-165 nm translated to rest-frame EUV photons at 60 nm, indicating Lyman continuum leakage with an escape fraction greater than 50%, marking the first such detection from a clumpy, star-forming galaxy at cosmic noon. This observation offered crucial evidence for ionizing photon escape in galaxy evolution during the epoch of reionization. AstroSat's combined LAXPC and Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) observations from 2021 to 2023 illuminated the complex variability of the black hole candidate GRS 1915+105, including low/hard state flares and state transitions. In 2022, time-resolved spectroscopy during the heartbeat state revealed oscillating periods of 100-150 seconds with flux variations by factors of 2-3, linked to viscous instabilities in the accretion disk. By 2023, multi-mission data including AstroSat confirmed an obscured phase with steady low luminosities (~1% Eddington) punctuated by sporadic flares, probing disk truncation and Comptonization effects.^[80] These studies enhanced models of black hole accretion and jet formation. UVIT surveys in 2022 further probed galaxy evolution through far-UV emissions from high-redshift systems. Deep imaging in the AstroSat UV Deep Field revealed extended far-UV structures in dwarf galaxies at z~1-2, with surface brightnesses indicating ongoing star formation in outer disks and merger-driven activity. These observations, combined with photometric redshifts, quantified UV luminosity functions evolving with cosmic time, showing a decline in bright-end density that aligns with quenching processes in massive progenitors.^[81] By 2023, AstroSat data from 2019-2023 had contributed to over 150 refereed publications, focusing on accretion physics in binaries and gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows. Key works included spectral modeling of disk instabilities and polarization in GRB prompt emission, with CZTI detecting afterglows like GRB 221009A to constrain jet geometries.^[6]

Recent Observations (2024–2025)

In 2025, AstroSat's Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) provided high-resolution timing data on the black hole candidate GRS 1915+105, revealing rapid X-ray flickering at approximately 70 Hz during high-brightness phases of its variability cycle. This flickering, absent in low-brightness dips, is attributed to modulations in the black hole's corona, which becomes compact and hotter during bright intervals before expanding and cooling, offering insights into accretion disk dynamics and energy release mechanisms.^[82] The observation, analyzed by researchers from IIT Guwahati and ISRO, marks the first direct evidence linking such quasi-periodic oscillations to coronal geometry changes in this archetypal microquasar.^[82] AstroSat's Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) continued monitoring stellar activity in nearby systems, including observations of Proxima Centauri that detected far-ultraviolet (FUV) variability associated with its frequent flares. These data highlighted enhanced UV emissions during flare events, contributing to models of magnetic reconnection in M-dwarf stars and their implications for exoplanet habitability in the Alpha Centauri system.^[83] The observations built on earlier detections, confirming Proxima Centauri's role as a key target for understanding UV radiation impacts on potential biospheres.^[83] The Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) on AstroSat enabled rapid localization of several gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in 2024–2025, including GRB 250916A and GRB 251007A, with sky positions refined to within a few degrees through off-axis detection techniques. Follow-up ground-based observations identified optical afterglows for these events, allowing multi-wavelength studies of jet structures and host galaxy environments, advancing constraints on GRB progenitor models.^[84]^[85] CZTI's alerts facilitated international collaborations, enhancing the network for transient event characterization.^[86] UVIT deep-field surveys in 2025, such as the AstroSat UV Deep Field South, detected FUV signatures from star-forming galaxies at redshifts up to z ≈ 1.5, including five new Lyman-continuum leaker candidates leaking ionizing photons. These findings probe the escape fraction of ultraviolet radiation in the early universe, informing reionization models through analysis of rest-frame 1500 Å emissions.^[87] The observations revealed diverse UV luminosity functions evolving with redshift, highlighting the role of low-mass galaxies in cosmic hydrogen ionization.^[81] Marking its 10-year milestone in September 2025, AstroSat has generated over 500 refereed publications, contributing to more than 1,000 total research publications, with significant contributions to black hole spin measurements—such as near-maximal spin rates in 4U 1630–47 derived from spectral modeling—and constraints on neutron star equations of state via timing analyses of low-mass X-ray binaries like GX 5-1.^[88]^[89]^[90]^[58] These results underscore the mission's enduring impact on high-energy astrophysics, enabling precise determinations of compact object properties through multi-instrument synergy.^[91]

Legacy and Future Prospects

Impact on Astronomy

AstroSat has significantly advanced the understanding of compact object accretion processes through its simultaneous multi-wavelength observations, enabling detailed spectro-temporal studies of neutron stars and black holes that reveal mechanisms of matter inflow and emission variability.^[92] The mission's Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) has detected over 700 gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) as of 2025, providing transient alerts that facilitate rapid follow-up observations and contribute to insights into high-energy cosmic events.^[86] Additionally, AstroSat's Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) has contributed to tracing UV luminosity function evolution in galaxies, shedding light on star formation histories and cosmic reionization processes.^[81] By offering extensive coverage of the southern sky, particularly through deep UV fields, AstroSat has filled observational gaps left by northern-hemisphere-dominated telescopes, enabling unique studies of southern galactic and extragalactic sources.^[93] The mission has bolstered capacity building in Indian space science, with its data utilized by approximately 3,400 researchers from 57 countries, including those from more than 130 Indian institutions, as of September 2025, fostering hands-on training in multi-wavelength data analysis.^[4] AstroSat's open data policy, implemented after an initial proprietary period, has democratized access to archival observations, leading to a substantial rise in Indian astronomy outputs, with refereed publications exceeding 440 as of 2023 and over 500 as of 2025.^[88]^[94] Technologically, AstroSat demonstrated successful integration of five co-aligned payloads for broad-band simultaneous observations, a feat that paved the way for subsequent Indian missions by refining techniques in payload synchronization and data handling.^[3] This expertise directly influenced the design of XPoSat, India's X-ray polarimetry satellite, and Aditya-L1, the solar observatory, by establishing protocols for multi-instrument space astronomy platforms.^[95] AstroSat's contributions have earned notable recognition, including the Astronomical Society of India's Zubin Kembhavi Award to its team in 2021 for outstanding impact, alongside celebrations marking its 10-year milestone in 2025 as a cornerstone of ISRO's astronomy endeavors.^[96] Mission data have been cited in over 440 international refereed papers as of 2023, underscoring its enduring influence on global astrophysics research.^[88]

AstroSat-2 and Successor Plans

Following the success of AstroSat, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) proposed AstroSat-2 in 2018 as a multi-wavelength successor mission dedicated to advancing observations in X-ray, ultraviolet, and optical astronomy.^[97] In February 2018, ISRO issued an Announcement of Opportunity to solicit ideas and proposals from Indian scientists and institutions for the mission's scientific instruments and overall development.^[97] The proposed mission aims to build on AstroSat's capabilities with enhanced instrumentation for broader astrophysical studies, including improved coverage of celestial sources across multiple wavelengths.^[98] As of November 2025, AstroSat-2 remains in the early planning and proposal evaluation phase, with no confirmed launch date, though it is envisioned for deployment via ISRO's PSLV or GSLV launch vehicles in the coming decade to sustain India's space astronomy program.^[98] Broader successor plans position AstroSat-2 within ISRO's long-term strategy for space-based astronomy, enabling more detailed probes of galactic and extragalactic phenomena while fostering collaborations with international observatories to complement global efforts in multi-wavelength research.^[99]

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[PDF] UVIT/AstroSat studies of blue straggler stars and post-mass transfer ...
The M67 cluster was observed on 23 April 2017 as part of the G07 cycle. These observations were carried out in 3 filters of the FUV channel, and the data ...<|separator|>
[68]
[PDF] Astrosat, Chandra and Hubble Space Telescope simultaneously ...
“The typical energy released during a solar flare is of the order of 1026-28 erg. If a flare like the one observed on Proxima Centauri occurs on our. Sun this ...
[69]
Shedding new light on the Crab with polarized X-rays - Nature
Aug 10, 2017 · The polarization of emissions from a bright celestial X-ray source, the Crab, is reported here for the first time in the hard X-ray band (~20–160 keV).
[70]
[PDF] CZT Imager of AstroSat measures first phase resolved X-ray ...
AstroSat, India's multi-wavelength space telescope, has successfully accomplished the extremely difficult task of measuring X-ray polarisation.
[71]
Astrosat Picture of the Month #009 – ASI POEC
The AstroSat Picture of the Month for June 2018 is the ultraviolet image of the merging galaxy cluster Abell 2256, more than 800 million light years away.Missing: SXT | Show results with:SXT
[72]
Isro's Astrosat helps study more than 750 celestial bodies, solves ...
Oct 12, 2018 · AstroSat has five scientific payloads- Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter ...
[73]
Data analysis publications with AstroSat
... GRB detection in AstroSat CZTI data. Gulati, S., Bhattacharya, D ... 2017, The Astrophysical Journal AstroSat/LAXPC Detection of Millisecond Phenomena in 4U 1728- ...
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https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/isros-astrosat-helps-study-more-than-750-celestial-bodies-solves-puzzles-too/articleshow/66182832.cms
[75]
http://astrosat-ssc.iucaa.in/dapub
[76]
Study of recent outburst in the Be/X-ray binary RX J0209.6−7427 ...
ABSTRACT. We present the timing and spectral studies of RX J0209.6–7427 during its rare 2019 outburst using observations with the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT.
[77]
[PDF] LAXPC instrument onboard AstroSat: Five exciting years of new scien
Feb 12, 2021 · Evolution of the Pulsar period during the outburst of RX J0209.6-7427 in 2019 is shown in this plot. Spin-up of the pulsar during the outburst ...
[78]
Multimission view of the low-luminosity 'obscured' phase of GRS ...
Aug 12, 2023 · ABSTRACT. GRS 1915+105 has been observed in an 'obscured' phase since 2019 May, exhibiting steady and low X-ray luminosities with sporadic ...
[79]
direct determination of the UV luminosity function and its evolution ...
We characterize the evolution of the rest-frame 1500 Å UV luminosity function (UVLF) from AstroSat/UVIT F154W and N242W imaging in the Great Observatories ...
[80]
IIT Guwahati and ISRO decode rapid X-ray flickering from black hole ...
Aug 18, 2025 · The discovery was made using data from India's AstroSat space observatory. The black hole, named GRS 1915+105, lies nearly 28,000 light-years ...
[81]
10 Years of AstroSat - PMF IAS
Oct 29, 2025 · Mission Life: Designed for 5 years, but operational even after 10 years. AstroSat. Contributions. Provided fresh insights into compact celestial ...
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https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/iit-guwahati-and-isro-decode-rapid-x-ray-flickering-from-black-hole-grs-1915105-2772783-2025-08-18
[83]
https://www.pmfias.com/astrosat/
[84]
Localization of gamma-ray bursts using AstroSat Mass Model
ABSTRACT. The Cadmium Zinc Telluride Imager (CZTI) aboard AstroSat has good sensitivity to gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), with close to 600 detections including.Missing: publications | Show results with:publications
[85]
The AstroSat UV Deep Field South. II. A Diverse Set of Lyman ...
Apr 23, 2025 · 2021, 2022) we consider for individual high-redshift LyC leakers (z > ... Facilities: AstroSat - (UVIT), HST (WFC3 - , ACS-WFC - , WFC3 ...
[86]
AstroSat and Chandra View of the High Soft State of 4U 1630–47 ...
We present the X-ray spectral and timing analysis of the transient black hole X-ray binary 4U 1630–47, observed with the AstroSat, Chandra, and MAXI space ...Missing: contributions | Show results with:contributions
[87]
AstroSat View of the Neutron Star Low-mass X-Ray Binary GX 5-1
Dec 16, 2024 · We present the spectral and timing study of the bright neutron star low-mass X-ray binary GX 5-1 using AstroSat/Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC)
[88]
A decade among the stars: India's first space observatory AstroSat ...
Sep 28, 2025 · India's first dedicated Space Astronomy Observatory, AstroSat completed a decade of operations on Sunday (September 28, 2025).Missing: achievements | Show results with:achievements
[89]
[PDF] Astrophysics with Compact Objects - arXiv
May 23, 2025 · In this context, AstroSat mission revolutionized spectro-temporal observations and measurements of accretion phenom- ena, quasi-periodic ...
[90]
The AstroSat UV Deep Field South. I. Far- and Near-ultraviolet ...
Nov 15, 2024 · We present the AstroSat UV Deep Field south (AUDFs), an imaging survey using the wide-field Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope on board AstroSat.
[91]
ISRO Missions - Study Notes
For India, XPoSat joins AdityaL1 and AstroSat as the country's third space observatory, marking a significant achievement in Indian space and astronomy research ...<|separator|>
[92]
Team AstroSat wins Award - II : IIA Scientists - YouTube
Sep 29, 2022 · Team AstroSat won the ASI Zubin Kembhavi Award for 2021. Some of the key scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics who built the ...Missing: ISRO 2020 2025
[93]
AstroSat-2: Isro plans to launch India's 2nd space observatory
Feb 19, 2018 · Isro is planning to launch the country's second AstroSat-2 or space observatory. The mission is meant to further the study of astronomy.Missing: approval | Show results with:approval
[94]
ISRO's Space Missions 2025: Full list of significant and upcoming ...
Mar 27, 2025 · A complete list of upcoming space missions by ISRO ; AstroSat-2, Astronomy and Astrophysics, A space telescope is proposed as the successor to ...
[95]
National Space Day 2025: ISRO's Upcoming Big Missions, From ...
Aug 23, 2025 · 8. AstroSat-2 ... A successor to India's first space observatory, AstroSat-2 will carry advanced instruments to study stars, galaxies, and cosmic ...