ISRO ADITYA L1 MISSION : Over 110 days of travel, 15 lakh kilometres covered, and a precision orbit insertion later, the Aditya-L1 mission has been successfully parked at an optimum spot in the vastness of space from where it will have an unobstructed view of the Sun.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the news and said "India creates yet another landmark. India’s first solar observatory, Aditya-L1 reaches its destination."
The India Space Research Organisation (Isro) aced the halo orbit insertion on Saturday by firing the motors on Aditya-L1, India’s maiden solar probe, to place it at its permanent spot Lagrange Point 1 in space.
"It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising 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," PM Modi added.
The spacecraft will now go through a commissioning phase following which it will begin observing the Sun to better understand how the star in our solar system not just powers life on Earth, but has a much more far-reaching effect than we realise.
“Aditya's seven instruments will keep an eye on the birth of dynamic activity of our home star and monitor its influence on the near-Earth spaceweather. This great Indian space observatory will contribute to our knowledge of the Sun-Earth System, the only system in the Universe where life is proven to exist,” Prof. Dibyendu Nandi, who is associated with the Aditya L-1 mission, and led its Space Weather Monitoring and Predictions Plan committee, told IndiaToday.in.
WHERE IS ADITYA L1?
Lagrangian Point 1 (L1) is a stable point in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies, such as the Earth and the Sun, balance the centripetal force felt by a smaller object, like a satellite. It lies along the line connecting the two larger bodies and allows satellites to maintain a relatively constant position.
Objects positioned at L1 remain in a stable configuration relative to the Earth and the Sun, making it an advantageous location for certain types of satellites, like those used for solar observations or monitoring space weather. However, maintaining a satellite at L1 requires constant adjustments due to gravitational perturbations from other celestial bodies.
"For India, this mission is more than just a scientific endeavor; it is a demonstration of our ability to lead advanced research and make significant contributions to the global understanding of solar phenomena. This milestone in space exploration marks a new chapter in our cosmic journey, inspiring a generation of scientists and dreamers," Manish Purohit, a solar energy and spacecraft solar panel expert, told IndiaToday.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
The Aditya L1 now has a five-year-long mission in front of it during which it will observe the sun using a package of seven instruments. The spacecraft will study the layers of the Sun, especially the corona which remains an enigma to solar physicists.
Aditya-L1 is armed with seven advanced instruments to explore the intricacies of the Sun's outer layers, employing electromagnetic and particle detectors. These cutting-edge tools encompass the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS), Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA), High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS), Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX), and onboard Magnetometers (MAG).
Four of the instruments have already been commissioned and the remaining three will be checked and evaluated in the coming days.
“The scientific observations of AdityaL1 will only commence now that the spacecraft has successfully reached its intended orbit around the Lagrange Point L1. If all instruments function as planned then this is the beginning of a new era of space-based research of the Sun from India,” Professor Nandi added.
While four payloads directly view the Sun from the unique vantage point of L1, the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1.
As India performs the cosmic 'Surya namaskar', It joins an elite club of nations including the US, Europe, and China to have a dedicated space-based solar observatory, another major stride in its growing ambit of space exploration.
With Aditya L1 in its new halo orbit, India is ready to illuminate the long-guarded secrets of the star in our Solar System from the best vantage point available.
