INDIA’S ADITYA-L1 MISSION

 FROM SAMPATH’S DESK:










 INDIA’S ADITYA-L1 MISSION

 

Even before the excitement, euphoria, and ecstasy could subside in India, and as people elsewhere in the world continued to feel a shocking and stunning, yet pleasant surprise at the tremendous success of Chandrayaan-3 that beamed into space from Sriharikota on July 14, 2023, and ended its prideful journey with its Lander Vikram’s touchdown on the moon on August 23, India, still justifiably basking on that glory - buoyed, emboldened, and inspirited as it were - embarked on its another ambitious and avowed solar mission by launching its ADITYA-L1 aboard the PSLV C57 exactly at 11.50 IST on 2nd September 2023 (Saturday) much to the delight of the entire mankind. ADITYA-L1 is expected to reach its ordained destination viz. L1 point I orbit around the Sun in, say about 126 days after its launch. 

 

After its Earth-bound maneuovers, on 10.9.2023 (Sunday), Aditya-L1 was located at the orbit at 296 km (Periapsis 184 mi) x 71767 km (Apoapsis 44,594 mi). The spacecraft is expected to reach its observation point in roughly 4 months where it will be placed in a halo orbit around Lagrangian Point-1 (or L1), a point in space between the Earth and the Sun that allows for continuous monitoring/observation of the Sun.

 

A curious or tricky question now most likely to be asked by people is whether or not Aditya-L1, or for that matter, any other solar mission vehicle, would experience extreme heat conditions as it advances towards the Sun and ultimately get melted at some point or other if it continues to inch towards the Sun, due to the ever-searing heat of the Universe’s fireball?

 

Unlike the Chandrayaan-3’s soft landing on the South Pole region of the Moon, the Aditya-L1 Mission cannot and will not land on the Sun due to the extremely scorching, red-hot, and igneous temperatures there making it well-nigh impossible to undertake any such misadventure. However, it will be placed in the orbit of the Sun-Earth system. The spacecraft will carry seven payloads to observe the Photosphere, Chromosphere, and the outermost layer of the Sun (the Corona) using Electromagnetic particles and magnetic field detectors. The placement of the spacecraft will be in a halo orbit around the Lagrange Point-1 of the Sun-Earth system. The point is about 1.5 million KM from the Earth and 148.5 million KM from the Sun. A satellite thus placed has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultation/eclipses, besides entailing and enjoying a greater benefit in observing solar activities and their effect on space weather in real-time. So, the question of whether the spacecraft sent by India to observe the Sun will melt down or be in any way damaged due to the Sun-heat is ruled out!

 

India’s Solar Mission is not just about ADITYA-L1 reaching its designated destination of its Halo Orbit around L1. What is more important is that on reaching that point, it should stay there, remain robust, stable and active, and constantly observe and send back to Earth invaluable data about the Sun’s dynamics.

   

VISION BEHIND THE MISSION:

 

ADITYA-L1 is loaded with advanced instruments, all designed meticulously to study the Sun’s outermost layer, its magnetic field fluctuations, and the solar wind dynamics. The data fetched will bridge many gaps in our current understanding of the Sun and the solar system, and may perhaps pose new questions for future explorations and proceed further after getting answers therefor. Given its extensive instrument suite, ADITYA-L1 is anticipated to function and transmit data for over 5 years. These years will be transformative in solar studies, potentially heralding a new age of understanding the Sun and its effects on our planet.

 

As we eagerly look forward to Aditya-L1’s remarkable safe journey to its designated destination, its observations and fact-findings thereafter, it all stands as a testament to India’s capabilities in space exploration. As the observatory orbits and observes, it will throw light on hitherto unknown facts about the Sun and our solar system, and pave the way for future endeavors besides inspiring countless others to look up and wonder, thus helping us all embrace a bright future in solar exploration.

 

 JAI HIND!

 

(R.SAMPATH)

14/9/2023

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