New Delhi, Sep 29 (NationPress) AstroSat -- India’s inaugural multi-wavelength astronomy satellite -- has marked a significant milestone by completing 10 years of scientific exploration, as confirmed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Launched on September 28, 2015, with a lift-off mass of 1515 kg, AstroSat was propelled into a 650 km orbit by the PSLV-C30 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

Over the past decade, AstroSat has achieved extraordinary milestones, such as detecting far-ultraviolet (UV) photons from a remarkable distance of approximately 9 billion light-years. This was accomplished using the sharpest and widest-angle UV instrument in space, alongside discovering rapidly spinning black holes and uncovering various findings related to X-ray emissions from binary stars within our Milky Way galaxy.

“On this day 10 years ago, #AstroSat, India’s first multi-wavelength astronomy observatory, was launched by ISRO,” the space agency noted in a social media post.

“From black holes to neutron stars, and from the closest star Proxima Centauri to the groundbreaking detection of FUV photons from galaxies located 9.3 billion light years away, AstroSat has provided invaluable insights across the electromagnetic spectrum from UV/Visible to high-energy X-rays,” ISRO further elaborated.

In a blog post, ISRO highlighted that AstroSat is capable of conducting simultaneous observations across a broad energy spectrum, including UV, visible, and high-energy X-rays, making it a formidable instrument for exploring various cosmic phenomena.

Its scientific journey commenced by tackling a longstanding puzzle involving a red giant star that exhibited unusual brightness in both UV light and infrared.

AstroSat’s remarkable discoveries encompass emissions from the Butterfly Nebula, which extends three times beyond its previously known dimensions, studies of X-ray polarization, a star rejuvenating itself, and the merger of galaxies.

ISRO pointed out that AstroSat has played a pivotal role in popularizing space science, integrating astrophysics research into 132 Indian universities. Approximately half of the observatory's users comprise Indian scientists and students, nurturing a new generation of astronomers.

Notably, AstroSat boasts a registered user base of nearly 3,400 from 57 countries globally.

Operated by ISRO, the satellite gathers data from its five scientific payloads to examine various celestial phenomena, including black holes, quasars, and supernovae, enhancing our understanding of the universe.

Originally designed for a lifespan of 5 years, AstroSat has significantly surpassed its intended operational life.

“All five scientific experiments onboard AstroSat are functioning effectively, and the observatory is anticipated to yield numerous new and exciting discoveries in the upcoming years,” ISRO stated.