India Successfully Launches First Sun Observation Mission, Aditya-L1
In a remarkable milestone for space exploration, India has launched its inaugural observation mission to the Sun, just days after achieving the historic feat of landing a probe near the Moon’s south pole.
Named Aditya-L1, the spacecraft embarked on its journey from the Sriharikota launch pad on a sunny Saturday morning at 11:50 India time (06:20 GMT). This ambitious mission is set to take Aditya-L1 approximately 1.5 million km (932,000 miles) from Earth, constituting a mere 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. The Indian Space Research Agency (ISRO) estimates that the spacecraft will reach this distance in approximately four months.
The mission’s name, Aditya-L1, pays homage to the Hindu god of the Sun, Surya, who is also known as Aditya. The “L1” in the name refers to Lagrange point 1, a unique location between the Sun and Earth where gravitational forces cancel each other out, allowing a spacecraft to effectively “hover” in place. Once Aditya-L1 reaches this strategic point, it will be able to orbit the Sun at the same rate as the Earth, requiring minimal fuel for its operations.
On the day of the launch, thousands of spectators gathered in a viewing gallery arranged by ISRO near the launch site to witness this historic event. The launch was also broadcast live on national television, with commentators describing it as a “magnificent” achievement. ISRO scientists confirmed the success of the launch, with Chief Sreedhara Panicker Somanath expressing optimism for the mission’s future.
The project director, Nigar Shaji, emphasized that the mission will not only benefit India but also contribute to global scientific endeavors. Aditya-L1 will journey around the Earth several times before setting its course toward Lagrange point 1. From this unique vantage point, it will have uninterrupted access to observe the Sun, even during solar eclipses, enabling valuable scientific studies.
While ISRO has not disclosed the exact cost of the mission, reports from the Indian press suggest it is estimated at 3.78 billion rupees ($46 million; £36 million).
Aditya-L1 is equipped with seven scientific instruments designed to study various aspects of the Sun, including the solar corona (the outermost layer), the photosphere (the Sun’s visible surface), and the chromosphere (a thin layer of plasma between the photosphere and the corona). These studies aim to enhance our understanding of solar activities such as solar wind, solar flares, and their impacts on Earth and near-space weather in real time.
Former ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai explained the significance of studying the Sun, emphasizing its influence on Earth’s weather, radiation, heat, particle flow, and magnetic fields. Space weather, he noted, plays a crucial role in satellite operations and can even disrupt power grids.
India, which boasts more than 50 satellites in space, relies on these satellites for critical services such as communication, weather data, and disaster prediction. Aditya-L1 will provide valuable insights and advance our ability to predict and mitigate potential space weather-related disruptions.
In addition to its solar mission, India recently made history by successfully landing a probe near the lunar south pole, making it the fourth country worldwide to achieve this feat. This solar mission, Aditya-L1, propels India into the select group of nations actively studying our solar system’s life-sustaining star.
This landmark endeavor by India comes on the heels of ongoing solar studies by other space agencies, including Japan’s 1981 mission, NASA’s and the European Space Agency’s (ESA) efforts since the 1990s, and the joint NASA-ESA Solar Orbiter mission launched in February 2020. NASA’s Parker Solar Probe also made history in 2021 by becoming the first spacecraft to venture through the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona.
India’s Aditya-L1 mission marks a significant contribution to humanity’s understanding of the Sun, a celestial body that has played a pivotal role in the formation and sustenance of our solar system for approximately 4.5 billion years. Thedailycourierng for more news