The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched a specialized satellite designed to study black holes and other astronomical phenomena. The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) lifted off successfully on Monday from Sriharikota spaceport, becoming only the second such space telescope after NASA's, launched in 2021. According to ISRO, the $30 million mission aims to enable more detailed research into black holes and improve scientific understanding. XPoSat has a planned lifespan of 5 years in orbit. The launch follows a series of successful ISRO missions over the past year, including lunar and solar studies. It represents India's growing space capabilities and ambitions, as ISRO also prepares for a manned mission in 2025 after completing test flights.

ISRO's PSLV-C58 rocket triumphantly initiated 2024, propelling the X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite, XPoSat, into a designated 650km orbit from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. A video shared by ISRO captured the satellite's orbital insertion. XPoSat's mission holds significance as India becomes the second nation, after the US, to explore celestial bodies' characteristics through dedicated polarimetry. The technology aids in understanding emissions from black holes, neutron stars, and other astronomical sources. ISRO's Chairperson, S Somnath, highlighted ambitious plans for 2024, aiming for a minimum of 12 missions, including Gaganyaan preparations and the final maneuver for Aditya-L1 on January 6.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) commenced 2024 with a resounding success as the PSLV-C58 mission, lifting off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, placed the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) into orbit. XPoSat, ISRO's debut in polarimetry, aims to unravel mysteries surrounding celestial X-ray sources, including black holes. Equipped with scientific payloads POLIX and XSPECT, the spacecraft will delve into the structure of neutron star magnetic fields, study galactic black hole binaries, and observe X-ray production. The ambitious launch also showcases ISRO's innovative use of the PSLV fourth stage for experiments in space. With plans for Gaganyaan and a joint NASA mission ahead, ISRO demonstrates its commitment to pioneering space exploration in 2024.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are poised for a unique New Year's experience, celebrating the transition from 2023 to 2024 a total of 16 times. The ISS's rapid orbit, completing an orbit around Earth every 90 minutes, results in 16 sunrises and sunsets within a 24-hour cycle. This distinctive phenomenon provides astronauts with unparalleled opportunities for experiments in microbiology and metallurgy. While adhering to Greenwich Mean Time, the ISS crew encounters challenges in maintaining circadian rhythms due to the continual oscillation between day and night. The ISS mission offers breathtaking views and a truly extraordinary New Year's celebration.

India gears up for a groundbreaking year in science, planning human spaceflight tests and delving into deep ocean exploration. After a successful moon mission, ISRO sets sights on sending aquanauts aboard "Samudrayaan" and launching XPoSat to study X-rays and black holes. The upcoming Gaganyaan missions aim for human spaceflight by 2025. Private space sector milestones include Skyroot Aerospace and Agnikul Cosmos eyeing commercial launches in 2024. Pixxel plans a satellite constellation, while major projects like LIGO and National Quantum Mission get government approval. Exciting developments include Antarctic research station plans and a winter expedition to the Arctic.

Scientists have unveiled a groundbreaking development – eSoil, an electrically conductive substrate for hydroponic cultivation, resulting in an impressive 50% increase in barley seedling growth within just 15 days. Eleni Stavrinidou, an associate professor at Linkoping University, emphasizes its potential: "With hydroponics, we can grow food also in urban environments in very controlled settings." This electronic substrate, made of cellulose and PEDOT, not only ensures low energy consumption but also poses no high voltage risk. The breakthrough paves the way for sustainable and controlled farming methods, addressing food demands and environmental challenges.

India's Aditya L1 spacecraft approaches a crucial phase, set to enter a halo orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1). Launched on September 2, 2023, the journey spanning 15 lakh kilometers aims to culminate on January 6, 2024. The insertion into L1, vital for studying the Sun's atmosphere and magnetic storms, demands precise navigation. ISRO's team navigates challenges, ensuring constant monitoring and protection from solar radiation. Success will enhance ISRO's capabilities, unlocking new insights into solar phenomena and space weather's impact. Aditya L1's mission signifies a significant stride in understanding the Sun's mysteries.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S Somanath announces that the maiden solar mission 'Aditya L1' is set to reach its destination, the Lagrangian point 1.5 million km from Earth, on January 6. Once positioned, the space-based observatory will study the Sun's dynamics from a halo orbit L1 for the next five years. The data collected is deemed crucial not only for India but for the world. Additionally, Somanath reveals ISRO's plan to build the 'Bharatiya space station' in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's directive, emphasizing India's commitment to becoming a technological force.

A groundbreaking discovery by Visva-Bharati University's research team unveils a novel species of bacteria, Pantoea Tagorei, dedicated to Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Recognizing Tagore's commitment to agriculture, the bacteria, found in Jharia coal mines, exhibits unique properties fostering plant growth. Bomba Dam, Microbiology Assistant Professor, highlights its ability to solubilize potassium, replenish nitrogen, and solubilize phosphorus. Farmers, already benefiting from its application, embrace the shift towards sustainable farming. Acting VC, Sanjoy Kumar Mallik, lauds the team's work, foreseeing a profound impact on agriculture. The findings, detailed in the Indian Journal of Microbiology, mark a fitting tribute to Tagore's legacy.

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a festive portrait of distant young stars assembled into a formation remarkably resembling a Christmas tree. Located 2,500 lightyears away, the stellar nursery dubbed "NGC 2264" houses fledgling stars spanning just one-tenth to seven times the mass of our Sun. NASA creatively enhanced the data into a cosmic holiday scene, adding color and synchronizing the stars' blinking activity. In reality, these dramatic variations result from flares, hotspots, and gas flows—byproducts of the volatile early stellar lifecycle. As another year filled with Webb's groundbreaking cosmic imagery draws to a close, this sparkling rendering offers one more wonder just in time for the holidays—a Christmas tree cluster ornamenting our vast Milky Way.