As India eagerly anticipates the Aditya L1 launch, the nation’s ambitious solar mission, the entire country holds its breath in hope of its triumphant success. Meanwhile, scientists at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) space center are diligently engaged in the final preparations for India’s maiden solar mission.
Introducing Aditya L1
Aditya L1 signifies India’s pioneering step into the realm of solar exploration. This cutting-edge spacecraft will be strategically positioned in a halo orbit around a fixed point within the Sun-Earth system. Its primary mission is to gather invaluable data about various solar phenomena taking place on the Sun’s surface, providing a wealth of insights for future scientific research.
Will Aditya L1 Land on the Sun?
In contrast to fantastical notions of landing on the Sun, Aditya L1 will not make physical contact with our blazing star. Instead, it will be meticulously placed into a stable orbit within the Sun-Earth system. The idea of landing on the Sun remains a scientific impossibility; therefore, the satellite and its suite of instruments will continue to gracefully orbit, continuously collecting vital solar information.
The Orbital Destination of Aditya L1
The answer to Aditya L1’s orbital destination lies within its very name. The spacecraft will be stationed in a halo orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1) within the Sun-Earth system, a staggering 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth. This strategic placement offers a remarkable advantage: an uninterrupted view of the Sun, unaffected by occultations or eclipses. This continuous observation promises to revolutionize our understanding of solar activities and their real-time impact on space weather.
The Launch and Journey of Aditya L1
The momentous launch is scheduled precisely for 11:50 am from the ISRO space center in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, on a Saturday. Following launch, Aditya L1 will remain in Earth-bound orbits for 16 days, during which it will undergo five maneuvers to acquire the necessary velocity for its interplanetary voyage. Subsequently, it embarks on a 110-day trajectory towards its destination at the L1 Lagrange point, where another maneuver will secure it in orbit.
Understanding Aditya L1’s Operation
Aditya L1’s seven distinct payloads will be strategically positioned to observe various aspects of our Sun. While one satellite resides in the halo orbit at L1, it will maintain an uninterrupted view of the Sun, enabling unparalleled observations. Other payloads aboard the spacecraft will scrutinize the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle detectors, as well as magnetic field sensors. Four payloads will directly observe the Sun, while the remaining three will conduct in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1.
The Genesis of Aditya L1
Each of Aditya L1’s seven payloads has been proudly developed by different laboratories across India. The VELC instrument originates from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore; SUIT instrument from the Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune; ASPEX instrument from the Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad; PAPA payload from the Space Physics Laboratory, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Thiruvananthapuram; SoLEXS and HEL1OS payloads from the U R Rao Satellite Centre, Bangalore, and the Magnetometer payload from the Laboratory for Electro Optics Systems, Bangalore. These instruments represent the culmination of close collaboration among various ISRO centers, ushering in a new era of solar exploration for India.