Polarimetry mission set for Dec launch: Isro chief

India's first dedicated polarimetry mission to study dynamics of bright astronomical X-ray sources in extreme conditions that could provide vital information on the nature and behaviour of celestial objects will be launched in December, the chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said on Tuesday.

- Soumya Pillai

"The satellite is built and kept ready, but we are expecting to launch it by December this year,"Isro chief S Somanath said at an event organised by the Indian National Space Academy in Delhi.

HT reported last week on plans of launching the XPoSat (X-ray Polarimeter Satellite) later this year. The Isro chairman said that the XPoSat was "ready for launch in December this year".

XPOSat is India's first and the world's second space mission to measure the polarisation of light.