India plans to send a second observatory in space. It will be a follow-up mission of Astrosat-1 — India's first dedicated multi-wavelength space telescope — aimed at looking at the origin of the universe and discover new planets. ISRO is finalizing a plan for the mission. It is expected to launch in 2025.
As a follow-on to AstroSat mission, the first Indian space astronomy observatory, Indian Space Research Organisation has initiated seeking proposals for the next astronomy mission. An observatory in space is advantageous to observe the celestial sources in wavebands that are not accessible from ground.
Several new initiatives / payloads have been considered in the area of X-ray and Gamma ray multi-wavelength astronomy in the next astronomy satellite ASTROSAT-2. These include:
(a) Soft X-ray, high-resolution spectroscopy with focusing optics and bolometer (Time-scale: 5-10 years)
(b) X-ray polarimeter (4-8 years)
(c) A sensitive X-ray sky monitor (~5years)
(d) A black hole monitor (~4-6 years)
(e) High sensitivity hard X-ray experiment (6-8 years)
The combination of payloads for ASTROSAT-2 will have to be decided in due course of time taking into account the development status of the instruments. Provisionally, it is planned to initiate the ASTROSAT-2 development during 11th plan period, though the realization could be only in 12th plan.
AstroSat-2 should have next level of science and engineering which could be anything from Gravitational wave counterpart detection, polarization of GRBs, IR telescopes or multi-wavelength capability, bigger telescope with grazing incidence optics etc. Universities have to be brought into data analysis and in Big data analytics. Formation flying concept with AstroSat 2A, 2B etc. having international competence can be thought of in future.
Astrosat-2 will carry higher resolution imagers, spectroscopes and polarimeter to enhance multi-wavelength observations.
References
Giant Leaps Ahead (Sept 8-14, 2019)
Budget Session of Parliament (Feb-Apr 2018)
AstroSat Science Meet (Sept 26-27, 2017)
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