India launches New Year's rocket to study black holes

India's space agency successfully launched a rocket Monday from Sriharikota spaceport to help scientists improve their "knowledge of black holes."

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"2024 lifted off majestically," the Indian Space Research Organization wrote Monday in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

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"XPoSat health is normal. Power generation has commenced."

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The launch is only the second mission to focus on studying black holes, after NASA launched a similar mission in 2021.

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ISRO will conduct its research on black holes using the X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, or XPoSat, which was deployed during Monday's launch.

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ISRO chief S Somanath said the PSLV-C58 vehicle placed the satellite into its intended orbit, which he described as "excellent."

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ISRO is currently working to launch a manned mission by 2025, with the goal of sending three astronauts into low-Earth orbit and bring them back after three days.

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"2024 is going to be the year for Gaganyaan readiness," Somanath said.

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