The Aditya-L1 mission, India’s inaugural space-based solar observatory developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is scheduled for launch on September 2nd from Sriharikota.
The spacecraft will be positioned in a halo orbit encircling the first Lagrange point (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, situated approximately 1.5 million km away from Earth, as per ISRO’s announcement.
Let us delve into what is the L1 point, where the spacecraft will be placed, and what will come out of the mission.
Where Will “Aditya L1 Mission” Go?
The space vehicle will be placed into orbit around the L1 Lagrange point. This location will enable it to have an unobstructed view of the Sun.
A Lagrange point, according to NASA, represents a spot in space where “the gravitational forces of two substantial bodies precisely counterbalance the centripetal force necessary for a small object to travel with them.” In simple terms, this point in space is utilized by spacecraft to minimize the amount of fuel required to maintain their position.
According to NASA, “The L1 point of the Earth-Sun system affords an uninterrupted view of the Sun and is currently home to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Satellite SOHO.”
Also Read: This ISRO Woman Scientist From Assam Was Involved In Both Chandrayaan 2 And 3 Missions
What Will The Mission Study?
The space vehicle transports seven instruments designed to examine the photosphere, chromosphere, and outer layers of the Sun. These instruments encompass detectors for electromagnetic waves, particles, and magnetic fields.
Among the seven instruments, four are focused on directly investigating the Sun, while the other three will analyze particles and fields at the L1 Lagrange point.
Aditya L1 payloads are expected to provide the most crucial information to understand the problem of coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare, and flare activities and their characteristics, dynamics of space weather, propagation of particles and fields, etc., according to ISRO.
Why Study The Sun?
Each celestial body, be it a planet like Earth or an exoplanet situated outside our Solar System, goes through a developmental process influenced by its host star. The conditions and surroundings of the star impact the overall state of the system.
Fluctuations in these conditions can lead to alterations in satellite trajectories, potentially reducing their operational lifespans, disrupting or harming internal electronics, and triggering power outages and other disruptions on Earth.
Acquiring information about solar phenomena is essential for comprehending space-related environmental conditions.
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Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: Mint, Indian Express, India Today
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This post is tagged under: aditya l1 mission, ISRO Aditya L1, why isro wants to study the sun, mission sun, solar mission, solar planet, solar system, s somnath, ISRO, indian space research organisation, chandrayaan 3, chandryaan, india’s lunar mission, india is on the moon
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