ISRO’s Aditya L1 Mission: Latest Updates and Insights
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for its next space mission, the Aditya L1 mission, scheduled to launch on Saturday, September 2, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. This mission follows ISRO’s successful landing on the Moon’s south side with Chandrayaan 3, marking India’s first dedicated scientific mission to study the Sun.
Countdown to Launch
The stage is set for ISRO’s Aditya L1 solar mission, with a launch time of 11:50 a.m. The third stage separation of the PSLV C-57 has already been completed.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Launch | September 2, 2023, 11:50 a.m. IST |
| Stage-3 Separation | Completed |
Visuals from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota, show the successful launch of the PSLV rocket carrying the Aditya L1 solar mission. So far, all signals are healthy, according to ISRO reports.
Live Telecast
You can watch the live telecast of the Aditya-L1 solar mission on ISRO’s website, YouTube channel, Facebook, and DD National TV starting from 11:50 a.m. (IST).
Key Features of Aditya L1 Mission
ISRO’s Aditya L1 mission will stay approximately 1.5 million km away from Earth, directed towards the Sun, which is about 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. The mission aims to study the solar upper atmosphere, including the chromosphere and corona, investigate heating mechanisms, plasma physics, and solar phenomena like coronal mass ejections and flares.
ISRO Chief S Somanath emphasized the importance of this launch, noting that the satellite will take 125 days to reach the L1 point, a crucial vantage point for solar observations.
Public Excitement
The launch has generated significant public interest, with visitors expressing their excitement at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. Many, inspired by Chandrayaan-3’s successful landing, are eager to witness this historic event.
The Aditya L1 mission is expected to provide valuable observations of the Sun, enhancing our understanding of solar dynamics and space weather. Former ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair stressed the importance of this solar mission.
About Aditya L1
Aditya L1 is India’s first space-based observatory dedicated to studying the Sun. It will provide remote observations of the solar corona and in-situ observations of the solar wind at the L1 point, situated approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.
The spacecraft will not land on the Sun but will orbit around L1, allowing for uninterrupted solar observations. This mission, with an estimated budget of Rs 424 crore (US$570 million), marks a significant step in advancing India’s space capabilities.
Scientific Objectives
Aditya L1 carries seven payloads designed to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the solar corona. Four payloads will directly view the Sun from the L1 point, while three will conduct in-situ studies of particles and fields at L1, contributing to our understanding of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium.
The mission is a collaborative effort involving national institutions, and it has been developed at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.
With the Aditya L1 mission, ISRO aims to enhance our knowledge of the Solar Corona and provide crucial data for space weather studies.
Launch Vehicle
ISRO will use the PSLV-C57 launch vehicle to kickstart the Aditya L-1 mission. This spacecraft will offer a close-up view of the Sun’s atmosphere and magnetic field, thanks to its positioning in a halo orbit around the L1 point.
The Aditya L1 mission promises to unlock new insights into solar phenomena and their impact on space weather, marking another significant milestone in India’s space exploration endeavors.