The Indian Space Research Organization successfully launched its first satellite aimed to study black and other celestial bodies after the US mission in 2021.
The X-ray Polarimeter Satellite was set off on Monday from the island of Sriharikota 650 kilometers up into Earth's orbit, carrying two scientific payloads.
Live footage of the lift-off was broadcast on ISRO's official YouTube channel.
X-ray visuals from the satellite are expected to provide the country with a better understanding of around 50 celestial bodies.
The satellite launch is part of ISRO's bigger ambition to become the fourth nation to bring men to space, following the success of the US, Russia, and China.
India's X-ray Satellite Capabilities
According to ISRO, the XPoSat is its first dedicated scientific satellite to collect X-ray emissions from celestial bodies.
The satellite is expected to operate for the next five years.
NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer, which was launched in 2021, was able to observe "powerful cosmic phenomena thousands to billions of light-years from Earth."
These include quasars, remnants of supernova explosions, and high-energy particles that came from black holes.
India aims to accomplish the same feats, adding to its growing studies of space since the ISRO was founded in 1969.
India Plans to Send Men into Space
Last year, India has already made progress with the mission after the successful lunar landing of the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft on the southern side of the moon.
It was later followed by another rocket launch, Aditya-L1, 10 days after for India's first dedicated mission to observe the sun.
ISRO chairperson S. Somanath said that this year will be "the year for Gaganyaan readiness," referring to the mission that will bring three astronauts into space for three days.
India is planning to land people on the moon by 2040.
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