India’s Aditya-L1, launched on September 2, approached its final destination on Saturday, the Lagrangian Point 1 (L1), located 1.5 million km from Earth in the direction of the sun. The spacecraft has been placed in a halo orbit around L1, which is a strategically balanced gravitational point between Earth and the Sun. This unique orbit will allow Aditya-L1 to continuously observe the sun without interference from eclipses or occultation, providing real-time data for studying solar activities and their impact on space weather.
The mission aims to address key objectives, including studying the physics of the solar corona and its heating mechanism, solar wind acceleration, coupling and dynamics of the solar atmosphere, solar wind distribution and temperature anisotropy, and the origin of Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) and flares which will contribute to a deeper understanding of near-earth space weather.
Aditya-L1 is equipped with seven payloads designed for a complete study of the sun. Four of these payloads will observe the light from the sun, while the remaining three will measure internal parameters of plasma and magnetic fields. The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) is the largest and most technically challenging payload, integrated, tested, and regulated at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics’ CREST campus in collaboration with ISRO.
The strategic positioning at L1 will enable Aditya-L1 to provide continuous and uninterrupted observations of the sun which will facilitate the identification of the sequence of processes leading to solar eruptive events. The spacecraft’s data is expected to significantly contribute to advancing our understanding of space weather drivers.
India’s Aditya-L1 Solar Probe: Bridging Gaps in Solar Research
Aditya-L1 is said to fill a crucial knowledge gap left by NASA-ESA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) when its mission concludes. The probe’s unique capabilities make it well-suited for environmental monitoring and remote surveys of the Sun.
A standout feature of Aditya-L1 is its ability to conduct environmental monitoring and remote surveys of the Sun simultaneously. This dual capability positions the Indian solar probe as a valuable successor to SOHO, which will ensure a continuous stream of solar data.
ISRO has released full disk images of the Sun and its photosphere in various filters.
As the spacecraft neared its final orbit, ISRO’s official website shared information about upcoming maneuvers that will bind Aditya-L1 to its orbit around L1. Once it becomes operational Aditya-L1 will play a crucial role in advancing solar research and enhancing our knowledge of solar activities and their effects on space weather.
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