XSat is a proposed next-generation Indian X-ray astronomy space mission in collaboration with Europe. If approved, it will be a legacy of AstroSat and will cause a transformational leap in X-ray spectral-timing capability unmatched by any existing or currently planned international mission. XSat aims to probe, with an unprecedented depth, fundamental and extreme aspects of compact objects and other cosmic sources, primarily using spectral and timing techniques, thanks to its very large area, high time resolution, and excellent broadband spectral capabilities. The following three science instruments are being planned for XSat: (1) Large Area Detector (LAD): an array of large-area silicon drift detectors (SDDs) operating in the energy range ~2-30 keV, having an effective area of at least 10 times the area of any existing or previous X-ray astronomy instruments; (2) Low Energy Concentrator (LEC): an array X-ray concentrators optics covering the soft X-ray band (~0.5-8 keV) and (3) Wide-Field X-ray Monitor (WFXM): micro-pore optics based wide field scanning monitors to detect outbursts of transient sources.
You may register your interest in XSat at a Google Form (link given below), preferably before 12 June 2026
--Sudip Bhattacharyya (TIFR, Mumbai)