Aditya L1 Launch Today: Why Is ISRO's Surya Mission Significant? Will Spacecraft Land on Sun? All FAQs Answered Ahead of India's First Solar Mission Launch
Aditya L1 will take to space aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Its mission trajectory mirrors the approach used by Chandrayaan-3, commencing with an Earth orbit phase. Subsequently, it will increase its velocity and adjust its trajectory to align with a path directed towards the Sun for its Surya Mission.
Mumbai, September 2: Less than ten days after successfully soft-landing near the Moon's south pole with Chandrayaan 3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for another significant milestone. Today at 11:50 AM, ISRO is poised to launch the Aditya-L1 Solar Mission or Surya Mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Aditya L1 will take to space aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Its mission trajectory mirrors the approach used by Chandrayaan-3, commencing with an Earth orbit phase. Subsequently, it will increase its velocity and adjust its trajectory to align with a path directed towards the Sun for its Surya Mission. This intricate journey, spanning approximately 1.5 kilometres to reach L1, will unfold over a duration of approximately four months. ISRO Sending Spacecraft to Sun? Here's Where Aditya L1 Mission, India's First Space-Based Solar Observatory, Is Going.
Significance and Objectives of Aditya L1:
Aditya L1 is India's pioneering entry into exploring the Sun from space. Its primary objective is to enter a strategically positioned halo orbit around the Sun-Earth's first Lagrange point (L1). This unique orbit offers an exceptional vantage point for uninterrupted, continuous observations of the Sun, free from any interference caused by eclipses. The spacecraft's primary mission revolves around real-time monitoring and study of solar activities and their impacts on space weather.
Aditya L1 will have seven tools onboard to watch different parts of the Sun and its atmosphere. These tools use special detectors for things like light, particles, and magnetic fields. They'll help us study the Sun's surface, outer layer, and everything in between. Aditya L1 Launch on September 2: ISRO Scientists Offer Prayers at Tirumala Temple Ahead of Sun Study Mission Launch (Watch Video).
Will Aditya L1 Land on Sun?
Aditya L1 will not actually land on the Sun; instead, it will take up a specific orbit known as a halo orbit around a spot called Lagrange Point 1 (L1), which is about 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth. The primary goal of Aditya L1 is to investigate the Sun's atmosphere thoroughly.
What is Lagrang?
A Lagrange point is a location in space where “the gravitational pull of two large masses precisely equals the centripetal force required for a small object to move with them,” according to NASA. In simpler terms, a Lagrange point (L point) is like a spot in space where the Earth's pull and the Sun's pull on something, like a spacecraft, are just right. This makes it possible for that spacecraft to stay in a steady position between the Earth and the Sun without floating away or getting pulled too close to either of them. There are five Lagrange points around the Sun, with only L1 and L2 being the most stable.
The overall budget of Aditya L1 is expected to be Rs 400 Crore. India's Surya Mission will provide important scientific studies on the propagatory effect of solar dynamics. The live telecast can be watched on the Doordarshan or ISRO's YouTube channel.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 02, 2023 06:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).