The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday launched Aditya-L1—India's Sun mission from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.
The historic launch took place at around 11: 50am.
Aditya-L1 is the first space-based observatory class to study the Sun and fired using ISRO's reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Sriharikota.
The spacecraft, after traveling about 1.5 million km from the Earth over 125 days, is expected to be placed in a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1 which is considered closest to the Sun.
The major objectives of the mission include understanding the Coronal Heating and Solar Wind Acceleration, the initiation of Coronal Mass Ejection, and near-earth space weather and the solar wind distribution.
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The Aditya-L1 mission carries seven scientific payloads to carry out the study.
The mission's name, "Aditya," pays homage to the sun in the Hindi language, reflecting the nation's reverence for this celestial body. After its recent triumph in lunar exploration, ISRO's focus now turns to unraveling the secrets of the sun, an endeavor poised to unlock critical insights into solar phenomena and its impact on Earth's environment.
The Sun expedition comes close on the heels of ISRO's successful moon mission, Chandrayaan 3.
Unveiling the Path to the Sun: Aditya-L1's Multistage Odyssey
The Aditya-L1 mission's odyssey will be characterized by several crucial stages as it ventures deeper into space, culminating in its halo orbit around the Lagrange point (L1). This ambitious journey unfolds as follows:
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Launch: ISRO's powerful PSLV XL rocket will ignite the journey, propelling the Aditya-L1 spacecraft from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR in Sriharikota.
Trajectory Evolution: The spacecraft will initially assume a Low Earth Orbit before transitioning into a more elliptical trajectory.
Departure from Earth's Gravitational Hold: Utilizing onboard propulsion, the probe will break free from Earth's gravitational influence, heralding its trajectory towards the Lagrange point.
Cruise Phase: The mission enters its cruise phase, marking the spacecraft's departure from Earth's Sphere of Influence.
Halo Orbit: The climax of the journey culminates with the insertion of the spacecraft into a sprawling halo orbit encircling the Lagrange point (L1).
Illuminating the Cosmos: Aditya-L1's Pivotal Role in Solar Exploration
The significance of the Aditya-L1 mission cannot be overstated. After India's remarkable achievement of landing a spacecraft near the lunar south pole, this solar odyssey holds the promise of enhancing our understanding of the sun's intricacies. Positioned in a halo orbit around one of the five Lagrange points, Aditya-L1 will be uniquely positioned to observe the sun, decoding its real-time effects on Earth's environment and other celestial bodies. The spacecraft's observations are also poised to unveil the hidden annals of Earth's climate history, as solar activities wield a profound impact on our planet's atmosphere.
