NEW DELHI: Aditya-L1, India's pioneering solar mission spacecraft bound for the Sun-Earth L1 point, has captured striking images of both our planet and the Moon. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) proudly presents the self-portrait and the mesmerizing snapshots taken by Aditya-L1 following its successful execution of the second earth-bound maneuver this past Tuesday.
The ISRO, in a social media revelation on 'X', shared a compelling video showcasing, "The Earth and the Moon as observed through the lens of Aditya-L1 on September 4." Notably, on September 2, the ISRO marked a historic milestone with the launch of Aditya-L1, India's inaugural solar mission, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
This groundbreaking mission carries seven distinct payloads, each designed for an in-depth exploration of the Sun. Four of these instruments will diligently observe the solar light, while the remaining three are dedicated to measuring in-situ parameters related to plasma and magnetic fields.
Aditya-L1 is en route to be stationed in a halo orbit around Lagrangian Point 1 (L1), located at an impressive distance of 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth, facing the radiant Sun. It is anticipated that the spacecraft will complete this journey within the span of four months. Aditya-L1 will remain approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, perpetually oriented toward the Sun, constituting a mere 1 percent of the Earth-Sun distance. Its primary mission objective is to scrutinize the outer atmosphere of the Sun.
ISRO has emphatically stated that Aditya-L1 will not approach or land on the Sun. This carefully chosen vantage point offers an unobstructed view of the Sun, free from the hindrance of eclipses or occultation events. This unique positioning facilitates continuous real-time observations of solar activities and their implications for space weather, providing valuable insights into the sequences leading to solar eruptive events and deepening our understanding of space weather phenomena.
India's solar mission is underpinned by ambitious goals, including the investigation of the physics governing the solar corona and its heating mechanisms, the acceleration of solar winds, the dynamics of the solar atmosphere, solar wind distribution and temperature anisotropy, as well as the origin of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and solar flares, and their impact on near-Earth space weather.
Aditya-L1 stands as a dedicated satellite committed to unraveling the enigmatic mysteries of our Sun. Over the course of 16 days, the satellite will traverse Earth-bound orbits, undergoing five precise maneuvers to attain the necessary velocity required to reach its intended destination. Subsequently, Aditya-L1 will embark on a trans-Lagrangian1 insertion maneuver spanning 110 days, traveling a remarkable distance of approximately 15 million kilometers to reach the coveted L1 point. Upon arrival at L1, another intricate maneuver will secure Aditya-L1 in a stable orbit around this gravitational equilibrium point, strategically positioned between Earth and the Sun, as detailed on ISRO's official website.
Aditya-L1 Advances Toward Target Orbit after Successful 2nd Earth-bound Maneuver
India's Aditya-L1 Solar Mission Marks a Milestone in Space Exploration