The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has put out a fresh update inviting proposals from the Indian scientists or researchers residing and working at institutes, colleges, or universities in India for 65% of time as well as to non-Indian scientists and researchers,and non-resident Indians (NRIs), working at space agencies, universities, colleges or institutes around the globe for 20% time.
The proposals are being invited for the Ninth AO cycle observations of the AstroSat mission, which was launched successfully on a PSLV-XL on 28 September 2015 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. The minimum mission life of the AstroSat mission is expected to be 5 years, which is until mid 2020.
Aim of the ISRO AstroSat Mission
The main scientific objectives of the ISRO AstroSat mission are to gather data in the following areas:
- To understand high energy processes in binary star systems containing neutron stars and black holes
- Estimate magnetic fields of neutron stars
- Study star birth regions and high energy processes in star systems lying beyond our galaxy
- Detect new briefly bright X-ray sources in the sky
- Perform a limited deep field survey of the Universe in the Ultraviolet region
There are five payloads on the AstroSat namely: Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT), soft X-ray imaging Telescope (SXT), LAXPC Instrument, Scanning Sky Monitor, and so on. The scientific data gathered by five payloads of AstroSat are then telemetered to the ground station at Missions Operation complex. The data is then processed, archived and distributed by Indian Space Science Data Centre (ISSDC) located at Bylalu, near Bengaluru, says ISRO.
Criteria to Send Proposals for ISRO AstroSat
Researchers and scientists who are working in reputed bodies and have the following requirements have been invited to send proposals:
- Involved in research in the area of astronomy
- Equipped to submit proposals as Principal Investigators (PIs) for specific target observations with necessary scientific and technical justification
- Capable of analysing the data, if the target is observed based on approvals
More information on the Announcement of opportunity can be obtained here.
(Source: Official ISRO Website)