Aditya L1 mission

New Delhi, Sept 02: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is once again making headlines with its ambitious space missions. Just days after the successful Chandrayaan-3 Moon mission, ISRO is all set to embark on its maiden solar expedition – the Aditya L1 mission. This remarkable mission will see ISRO’s trusted Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carry the Aditya-L1 spacecraft on a 125-day journey to explore the Sun.

Countdown for Aditya L1 Mission Begins

On Friday, ISRO officially commenced the countdown for the launch of the Aditya L1 mission. The launch will take place from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota. Here are some key updates on this groundbreaking solar mission:

1. Launch Details: The Sun observatory mission Aditya-L1, named after the Sanskrit word for the Sun, will be launched from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 11.50 am on Saturday. This launch comes shortly after the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3’s Vikram lander on the Moon’s south pole.

2. Destination: The Aditya-L1 mission aims to reach the L1 (Sun-Earth Lagrangian point), which is approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. This location provides the advantage of continuously observing the Sun without the occurrence of eclipses.

3. Lagrangian Points: There are five Lagrangian points in space, and the L1 point is a region where the gravitational forces of two celestial bodies, such as the Sun and Earth, are in equilibrium. This allows objects placed there to remain relatively stable with respect to both celestial bodies.

4. Mission Timeline: Following the launch on September 2, Aditya-L1 will spend 16 days in Earth-bound orbits, undergoing five maneuvers to gain the necessary velocity for its journey. It will then embark on a 110-day trajectory to reach the L1 Lagrange point.

5. Solar Studies: The Sun is the nearest star, making it an ideal candidate for detailed study. Insights gained from studying the Sun can provide valuable information about stars not only in our Milky Way galaxy but also in other galaxies.

6. Key Payload: The primary payload of Aditya-L1 is the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), which will send 1,440 images per day to ground stations for analysis. VELC is considered the largest and most technically challenging payload on Aditya-L1.

7. Mission Objectives: The Aditya-L1 mission has several key objectives, including understanding the solar atmosphere, solar wind distribution, and temperature anisotropy, among others.

8. ISRO Chairman’s Visit: ISRO Chairman S Somanath visited the Chengalamma Parameshwari Temple in Tirupati district ahead of the Aditya-L1 mission launch, a tradition he also followed before the Chandrayaan-3 mission.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Aditya-L1?
Aditya-L1 is a satellite dedicated to the comprehensive study of the Sun.

Will Aditya-L1 land on the Sun?
No, Aditya-L1 will not land on the Sun. Instead, it will orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1), located approximately 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth.

How will Aditya-L1 work?
Initially, Aditya-L1 will be placed in a Low Earth Orbit. Later, the orbit will be made more elliptical, and the spacecraft will be launched toward the Lagrange Point 1 (L1) using onboard propulsion.

India’s Aditya L1 mission represents a significant step forward in solar research and space exploration. With its advanced instruments and ambitious goals, this mission has the potential to expand our understanding of the Sun and its impact on our solar system. As ISRO continues to push the boundaries of space science, the world eagerly anticipates the discoveries that Aditya-L1 will bring.