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In a significant milestone for India’s space exploration, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched its first solar observatory mission dedicated to study the Sun, Aditya-L1, on 02 September, 2023.
The launch took place at 11:50 am IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The spacecraft separated from the fourth stage of the rocket nearly an hour after launch, making it one of the longest missions of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
Aditya-L1 is India’s pioneering mission to study the Sun and its dynamic activities. The spacecraft will travel approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth to position itself in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system. This strategic location will allow the satellite to continuously observe the Sun without any eclipses, providing real-time data on solar activities and their effects on space weather.
The mission carries seven scientific instruments designed to investigate various aspects of the Sun’s behavior. These include the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX), and a Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA). These instruments will provide multi-wavelength observations of the Sun’s atmosphere, from the photosphere to the corona, enabling scientists to trace the flow of energy and matter between different layers.
One of the key objectives of the Aditya-L1 mission is to unravel the mystery of the
PM Modi congratulates ISRO for the successful launch of India’s first Solar Mission
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on 2 September scientists and engineers of ISRO for the successful launch of India’s first Solar Mission, Aditya -L1.
In a X post, the Prime Minister said; “After the success of Chandrayaan-3, India continues its space journey. Congratulations to our scientists and engineers at @isro for the successful launch of India’s first Solar Mission, Aditya -L1. Our tireless scientific efforts will continue in order to develop better understanding of the Universe for the welfare of entire humanity.”
The Aditya L-1 space probe, designed to explore the outer region of the Sun, was successfully launched by the PSLV C-57 rocket on September 2.
Country is proud of our scientists and their extraordinary achievements: JP Nadda
“I heartily congratulate the scientists of ISRO for the successful launch of Aditya L-1 and I also congratulate our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for his foresight and vision for the country and humanity. Entire country is proud of our scientists and their extraordinary achievements. India’s Aditya L-1 mission is the amalgamation of faith and science. I offer my best wishes for the future journey of the Aditya L-1 mission.”
Sun’s corona, which is significantly hotter than its surface. By closely examining the behaviour of the corona, scientists hope to understand the mechanisms responsible for heating this outer layer of the Sun.