Table of Contents
Introduction
On September 2, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone with the successful launch of India’s first solar observatory mission, Aditya-L1. The mission was carried out using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) in its 59th flight, lifting off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 11.50 a.m.
Approximately 63 minutes after liftoff, the separation of the Aditya-L1 satellite from the PSLV occurred at 12.53 p.m. This launch marked one of the longest flights for ISRO’s PSLV in recent times.
On September 2, 2023, India’s inaugural solar mission, Aditya L1, took off from ISRO’s SDSC-SHAR facility in Andhra Pradesh. Photo Credit: Raghunathan SR
Aditya-L1’s Unique Trajectory and Objectives
Following its successful launch, Aditya-L1 will remain in orbit around Earth for 16 days. During this period, it will undergo five maneuvers to gain the necessary velocity for its journey towards the sun. The spacecraft will execute a Trans-Lagrangian1 insertion maneuver, commencing its 110-day trajectory towards the L1 Lagrange point—a gravitationally balanced location between Earth and the sun.
Upon reaching the L1 point, Aditya-L1 will undergo another crucial maneuver to establish an orbit around L1, positioning it approximately 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth—directed towards the sun. This distance represents roughly 1% of the Earth-Sun distance.
Scientific Objectives and Payloads
Aditya-L1, with a mission life of five years, is poised to provide critical data to advance our understanding of various solar phenomena. Its payloads are designed to study coronal heating, coronal mass ejections, pre-flare and flare activities, space weather dynamics, and the propagation of particles and fields.
The seven payloads onboard Aditya-L1 include:
- Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
- Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
- Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)
- High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS)
- Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX)
- Plasma Analyser Package For Aditya (PAPA)
- Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers
A Long Journey Ahead
Post-launch, ISRO Chairperson S. Somanath shared that Aditya-L1 had been injected into an elliptical orbit of 235 km by 19,500 km precisely as intended. This unique mission mode involved the upper stage of the PSLV executing two burn sequences for injecting the primary satellite, a first for ISRO. Aditya-L1’s journey will continue, with maneuvers planned to raise its orbit, beginning on September 3.
Prime Minister and Minister of State Congratulate ISRO
Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the successful launch on social media, expressing his pride in India’s scientific efforts to explore the universe for the betterment of humanity. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh also lauded ISRO’s achievement, emphasizing its global significance. The successful launch of Aditya-L1 marks a shining moment for India’s space endeavors, specifically in solar observation and exploration.
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