The Aditya-L1 space-based Sun observatory has reached ISRO’s spaceport in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. From here, the coronagraphy spacecraft will be launched to study the Sun, specifically, the solar atmosphere.
ISRO plans to launch the Aditya-L1 in late August or early September. The satellite was developed and made at the U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bengaluru.
The launch mission and the cruise phase
If the launch and cruise mission goes as per plan, ISRO will place the Aditya-L1 spacecraft in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) within the Sun-Earth system, positioned around 1.5 million km away from Earth.
This strategic location provides a notable advantage in solar missions. This point gives observers an uninterrupted view of the Sun without disruptions by an eclipse or any other blockage.
According to ISRO, the mission’s launch will be carried out using a PSLV rocket from the Sathish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR (SDSC SHAR) in Sriharikota. Initially, the spacecraft will be positioned in a low Earth orbit. Subsequently, the spacecraft’s orbit will be adjusted to become more elliptical. This will propel the spacecraft toward the L1 point using onboard propulsion systems. It will take the Aditya-L1 about four months to reach its destination, the L1 point.
ISRO highlighted that this characteristic will significantly enhance the real-time monitoring of solar activities and their influence on space weather.
The payload
The satellite is outfitted with seven payloads intended to examine different layers of the Sun, including the photosphere, chromosphere, and outer Corona. These observations will be facilitated by detectors for electromagnetic particles and magnetic fields.
From its position at L1, four of the payloads will directly observe the Sun, while the remaining three will conduct on-site particle and field analyses. This facet of the mission promises valuable insights into how solar dynamics propagate through the interplanetary medium.
The Aditya L1 will be carrying the following payload:
- A Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) will investigate the Corona through imaging and spectroscopy and study Coronal mass ejections.
- A Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) will capture images of the Photosphere and Chromosphere using narrow and broadband imaging techniques. Additionally, it will measure fluctuations in solar irradiance.
- A Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS) and the High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) will examine soft and hard X-ray flares emitted by the Sun across a broad spectrum of X-ray energies.
- The Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) and the Plasma Analyser Package For Aditya (PAPA) will analyze electrons and protons present in the Solar wind while investigating its energetic ions.
- The mission will also use Advanced Tri-axial High-Resolution Digital Magnetometers to study the interplanetary magnetic field at the L1 point.
ISRO clarified, “The instruments on Aditya L1 payloads are expected to provide crucial information for understanding coronal heating, coronal mass ejections, pre-flare and flare activities, as well as the characteristics of these events, space weather dynamics, and the propagation of particles and fields.”
What is the mission of Aditya-L1?
The key scientific goals of the Aditya-L1 mission will be to conduct a wide range of studies, from investigating upper solar atmospheric dynamics to identifying complex processes preceding solar eruptive events.
It will investigate the dynamics of the solar upper atmosphere, specifically the chromosphere and Corona of the Sun. This includes examining chromospheric and coronal heating processes, understanding the physics of partially ionized plasma, investigating the triggers for coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and studying solar flares.
The mission also focuses on observing the particle and plasma environment, which will yield valuable data for analyzing the dynamics of particles originating from the Sun. Additionally, the mission aims to gain insights into the fundamental physics governing the solar Corona and the mechanisms responsible for its heating.
Furthermore, the mission will delve into a comprehensive analysis of plasma temperature, velocity, and density within the coronal region and coronal loops. Another critical aspect of the task involves extensive research into the development, dynamics, and origins of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
The instruments on board Aditya-L1 are precisely calibrated to scrutinize the solar atmosphere, focusing on the chromosphere and Corona.
