India Launches Aditya-L1 Mission

• 04 Sep 2023

On 2^nd September, 2023, India's space achievements continued as the country launched its inaugural solar observation mission, Aditya-L1, just days after its historic lunar landing near the Moon's south pole.

Key Points:

• Aditya-L1's Journey to the Sun: It embarks on a remarkable journey, covering a distance of 1.5 million km from Earth, approximately 1% of the Earth-Sun distance.
• The Indian space agency anticipates a four-month travel duration to reach its destination.
• Unveiling the Mission's Name and Purpose: The mission is named Aditya, derived from Surya, the Hindu god symbolizing the Sun.
• "L1" stands for Lagrange point 1, the precise location between the Sun and Earth where the spacecraft is destined.
• The Significance of Lagrange Points: According to the European Space Agency, Lagrange points are areas where the gravitational forces of two massive celestial bodies, like the Sun and Earth, balance, allowing spacecraft to remain stationary or "hover" in these positions.
• Aditya-L1, upon reaching this Lagrange point, will orbit the Sun at the same pace as Earth, minimizing the need for significant fuel consumption.
• Scientific Instruments: Aditya-L1 is equipped with seven scientific instruments dedicated to observing and studying the Sun's corona (outermost layer), photosphere (visible surface from Earth), and chromosphere (a thin plasma layer between the photosphere and corona).
• Understanding Solar Activity and Space Weather: The mission aims to enhance scientific understanding of the Sun's constant influence on Earth's weather, radiation, heat, particle flow, and magnetic fields.
• It will also address the critical role of space weather in satellite functionality, power grids, and related impacts.
• The mission's insights are expected to improve satellite longevity and space operations.