Posted: Sat, Jan 6, 2024, 6:01 PM ET (2301 GMT)
India conducted the first launch of the new year, placing an X-ray astronomy satellite into orbit. A Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) lifted off at 10:40 p.m. Eastern Sunday, which was Monday morning, Jan. 1, in India. It deployed into low Earth orbit XPoSat, a satellite with instruments to conduct X-ray polarization observations of black holes, neutron stars and other objects. The head of the Indian space agency ISRO said after the launch that 2024 will be the "year of Gaganyaan," India's human spaceflight program, with several uncrewed test launches planned. Neither ISRO nor NASA have provided updates on a goal announced last year to fly an Indian astronaut to the International Space Station in 2024.

Related Links:

•  SpaceNews article
•  The Hindu article
•  BBC article
•  PTI article