According to the statement by ISRO Chief, Somanath, the Solar Mission Aditya L1 is set to reach its destination at the Lagrangian point 1 on January 6. It was sent into space on September 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre and is set to examine the Sun from a halo orbit positioned at L1 which is situated 1.5 million km away from Earth.
The head of ISRO further stated that Aditya-L1 would be stationed at the L1 location for five years following its successful insertion there. He underlined the value of the information acquired, pointing out that it is crucial not just for India but for the entire world. He claimed that this information would be crucial to understanding the Sun’s dynamics and how life is affected by it.
Aditya L1’s journey
In the vast emptiness of space, the Indian space probe Aditya L1 has been on a remarkable and arduous journey, covering over 15 lakh kilometers since its launch by ISRO on September 2, 2023. Now, it is about to reach a major milestone next year on January 6.
The process of getting Aditya L1 into its target spot Lagrange Point 1 requires careful steering and control just like guiding a ship through cosmic waters. Its milestone completion is being widely anticipated by people.
Why is Lagrange point 1 significant?
Lagrange Point 1 is a special place because it offers Aditya L1 an uninterrupted view of the Sun. From there, the spacecraft can then study things like magnetic storms and the solar atmosphere. It will help us understand how the Sun influences our planet. It is like having a front-row seat to discovering the mysteries of the universe.
Aditya L1 is equipped to measure key aspects in space like interplanetary magnetic fields and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). This information has been described as equivalent to receiving messages from space which is why scientists worldwide are eager to receive and decode these cosmic texts.
Moreover, reaching Lagrange point does not mean that the journey is over. The spacecraft needs to make constant adjustments to overcome gravitational influences and solar radiation pressures. Since, L1 point is a very unstable one, it is also essential to make tunings of 0.2–4 m/s per year to ensure that Aditya L1 remains in its halo orbit.
What makes this mission unique?
- New Solar View: The mission takes special pictures of the sun in a different light, giving us a unique perspective that has not been seen before.
- Close-up on Solar Storms: It gets very close to the sun (about 1.05 times the sun’s size) to study the beginning of solar storms, which has not been worked on much before.
- Smart Detection: The spacecraft is smart and can find solar storms and flares by itself. This helps it take better pictures and manage data well.
- Understanding Solar Wind: By observing the wind from the sun in different directions, the mission will help us understand its patterns and energy better.
As the day approaches when Aditya is set to reach its peak, there is a sense of excitement and accomplishment. This mission is not just about science. It is a journey of curiosity and discovery, reminding us of the wonders that exist beyond the Earth.
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