Aditya-L1, ISRO’S first solar spacecraft enters Sun’s final orbit
Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has achieved a major milestone as they successfully completed the last manoeuvre to position the Aditya-L1 spacecraft into its designated orbit. Aditya-L1 is India’s first space-based observatory dedicated to studying the Sun. The spacecraft has now reached its final destination, a distance of approximately 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Saturday successfully performed the final manoeuvre to inject Aditya-L1 spacecraft — the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun – into its final destination orbit, nearly 1.5 million kilometers from the Earth.
Aditya-L1 reaches it destination: PM Modi lauds ISRO scientists
“India creates yet another landmark. India’s first solar observatory Aditya-L1 reaches it destination. It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realizing among the most complex and intricate space missions. I join the nation in applauding this extraordinary feat. We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity,” said PM Modi in a post on X.
“From Moon walk to Sun Dance! What a glorious turn of year for Bharat! Under the visionary leadership of PM @narendramodi,yet another success story scripted by Team #ISRO. #AdityaL1 reaches its final orbit to discover the mysteries of Sun-Earth connection,” said Jitendra Singh, MoS Science and Technology.
“It’s a very important moment in the journey of Aditya L1. So, the most crucial manoeuvre that will place Aditya L1 in its orbit, specifically the Halo orbit incision, has been successfully executed. This marks the transition from the cruise phase to the orbit phase of the Aditya L1 mission,” said Annapurni Subramaniam, Director, The Indian Institute of Astrophysics earlier today.
On September 2, last year, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft was launched from the second launch pad at Sriharikota’s Satish Dhawan Space Centre using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57).
After a flight duration of 63 minutes and 20 seconds, it was successfully injected into an elliptical orbit of 235×19500 km around the Earth.
The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle and magnetic field detectors.
“Using the special vantage point L1, four payloads directly view the Sun and the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1, thus providing important scientific studies of the propagatory effect of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium,” according to the space agency.
The suits of Aditya L1 payloads are expected to provide the “most crucial information” to understand the problem of coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activities and their characteristics, dynamics of space weather, and propagation of particles and fields, officials said.
The major science objectives of the Aditya-L1 mission are:
Study of the Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics.
Study of chromospheric and coronal heating, physics of the partially ionized plasma, initiation of the coronal mass ejections, and flares.
Observe the in-situ particle and plasma environment, providing data for the study of particle dynamics from the Sun.
Physics of the solar corona and its heating mechanism.
Diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma: Temperature, velocity and d ..
Development, dynamics and origin of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
Identify the sequence of processes that occur at multiple layers (chromosphere, base and extended corona) which eventually leads to solar eruptive events.
Magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in the solar corona.
Drivers for space weather (origin, composition and dynamics of solar wind)