ISRO starts AdityL1 mission to the sun combining with Indian Institute for Astrophysics(IAA)
After the glorious launch of the Chandrayaan-3, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for the next landmark mission, the Aditya L1. Aditya as the name suggest Sun. Yes, first mission to the sun to observe the Sun and the solar corona.
It is ISRO’s second space-based astronomy mission after AstroSat for a scientific expedition to study the Sun. The mission was initially named Aditya 1 which was limited to observing only the solar corona. By analyzing these phenomena, we aim to better comprehend the Sun’s influence on space weather .
The spacecraft shall be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth.
Lagrange point : Lagrange points are positions in space where objects sent there tend to stay put. At Lagrange points, the gravitational pull of two large masses precisely equals the centripetal force required for a small object to move with them.
There are 5 Lagrange point : L1 , L2 , L3 , L4 , L5
L1 (Aditya L1’s Destination):
Lagrange Point L1 holds immense significance for solar missions like Aditya L1. Positioned between the Earth and the Sun, this point allows the satellite to remain in a stable gravitational relationship with both bodies, enabling continuous observations of the Sun without any interference from our planet’s shadow. This strategic location offers a unique vantage point for monitoring solar activity, including solar flares, CMEs, and other space weather events.
L2 and L3:
Lagrange Points L2 and L3 are situated on the line connecting the Sun and the Earth but on opposite sides of the Sun. L3, being always behind the sun, doesn’t have much application, however, L2 provides the perfect vantage points for space telescopes and observatories. Space telescopes positioned at L2, such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), can observe the cosmos beyond the Sun’s glare, making them ideal for studying distant galaxies, stars, and other celestial phenomena.
L4 and L5:
Lagrange Points L4 and L5 form an equilateral triangle with the Earth and the Sun, each positioned 60 degrees ahead or behind them in their orbits. These points tend to gather clusters of asteroids and other celestial objects known as “Trojan asteroids.” Studying these objects at L4 and L5 can provide valuable insights into the early history and formation of our solar system.
Without any occultation/eclipse the satellite placed in the halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun . It will take around 107 earth days to reach at L1.
There are total seven payloads on-board with four of them carrying out remote sensing of the Sun and three of them carrying in-situ observation.
Here are 7 payloads:
1- Visible Emission Line Coronagraph(VELC)
2- Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
3- Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)
4- High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer(HEL1OS)
5- Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment(ASPEX)
6 -Plasma Analyser Package For Aditya (PAPA)
7 -Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers.
Multiple studies of solar activity and its impact on space weather will be feasible thanks to the mission, which will have seven instruments on board to study the chromosphere, the sun’s outermost layers (the corona), and the photosphere.
we can easily study solar wind distributation and temperature anisotropy.
Yes we are going to Sun . All the best to the team ISRO.
