Aditya-L1: India’s First Sun Mission

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6 Sept 2023

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India has always been fascinated by the Sun, the source of life and energy on Earth. The ancient Indians worshipped the Sun as Surya, the god of light and wisdom. They also developed sophisticated methods of observing and predicting the movements of the Sun and other celestial bodies.

Now, in the 21st century, India is ready to embark on a new journey of solar exploration with its first dedicated mission to study the Sun: Aditya-L1. This mission, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on September 2, 2023, aims to unravel the mysteries of the Sun and its impact on our planet and space environment.

What is Aditya-L1?

Aditya-L1 is a spacecraft that will orbit around a special point in space called Lagrange point 1 (L1), which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth. This point is where the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Earth balance each other, allowing a spacecraft to stay in a stable position relative to both bodies.

From this vantage point, Aditya-L1 will be able to observe the Sun continuously, even during eclipses, and monitor its various features and phenomena. The mission is expected to operate for at least five years, providing valuable data and insights for scientists and researchers.

Image - Aditya-L1 Payloads source - isro

What are the objectives of Aditya-L1?
Aditya-L1 has several scientific objectives that will enhance our understanding of the Sun and its influence on our solar system. Some of these objectives are:

To study the solar corona, which is the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere that extends millions of kilometers into space. The corona is where most of the solar activity, such as flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), occurs. These events can affect the Earth’s magnetic field, climate, communication systems, and satellites.
To study the photosphere and chromosphere, which are the visible surface and the thin layer above it, respectively. These layers are where we see sunspots, granules, filaments, and prominences. These features indicate the magnetic activity and convection currents inside the Sun.
To study the solar wind, which is a stream of charged particles that flows outwards from the Sun at high speeds. The solar wind interacts with the Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere, creating phenomena such as auroras and geomagnetic storms.
To measure the magnetic field of the Sun and its variations over time. The magnetic field is generated by the dynamo effect of the rotating plasma inside the Sun. The magnetic field influences the structure and behavior of the solar atmosphere and wind.

What are the instruments on board Aditya-L1?

Aditya-L1 carries seven scientific instruments that will perform different measurements and observations of the Sun. These instruments are:

Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC): This instrument will create an artificial eclipse by blocking out the bright disk of the Sun, allowing it to image and analyze the corona in visible light. It will also measure the polarization and spectral properties of the coronal emission lines.
Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT): This instrument will capture images of the photosphere and chromosphere in ultraviolet wavelengths. It will also measure the intensity and variability of these layers in narrow and broadband filters.
Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS): This instrument will detect and measure low-energy X-rays emitted by the Sun as a whole. It will provide information about the temperature and density of the hot plasma in the corona.
High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS): This instrument will detect and measure high-energy X-rays emitted by the Sun as a whole. It will provide information about the acceleration and heating mechanisms of energetic particles in flares and CMEs.
Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX): This instrument will analyze the composition and distribution of protons and heavier ions in the solar wind. It will also determine their direction and velocity relative to the spacecraft.
Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA): This instrument will measure the temperature, density, and velocity of electrons in the solar wind. It will also detect any variations or fluctuations in these parameters.
Advanced Tri-axial High-Resolution Digital Magnetometers: These instruments will measure the magnetic field strength and direction along three axes at high resolution. They will help to understand how the magnetic field affects the solar wind and the spacecraft.

Aditya-L1 in the deployed configuration - Wikimedia Commons

Aditya-L1 development timeline

According to the sources I found, it took about 17 years to develop Aditya-L1 from its initial proposal to its launch. Here is a brief timeline of the mission’s development:

2006: The idea of a solar observatory with a single instrument (VELC) was proposed by Indian scientists.
2008: The mission was approved by the government and named Aditya-1.
2010: The mission was expanded to include six more instruments and renamed Aditya-L1.
2014: The mission design and payload development were completed.
2016: The spacecraft assembly and testing began.
2019: The spacecraft was integrated with the launch vehicle (PSLV-XL).
2020: The mission was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and technical issues.
2021: The mission was rescheduled for September 2023.
2023: The mission was successfully launched on September 2, 2023.

Aditya-L1 is a result of the hard work and dedication of many scientists, engineers, and technicians from ISRO and other institutions. It is also a testament to India’s long-term vision and commitment to advancing space science and technology.

Why is Aditya-L1 important?

Aditya-L1 is a landmark mission for India as it marks its entry into a new domain of space science: heliophysics, which is the study of the Sun and its interaction with the solar system. Aditya-L1 will not only enhance India’s scientific capabilities and reputation but also contribute to the global efforts of understanding and predicting the Sun’s behavior and its impact on our planet and civilization.

Aditya-L1 will also pave the way for future solar missions by ISRO, such as Aditya-L2, which will study the Sun-Earth connection from a different perspective, and Aditya-L3, which will explore the far side of the Sun that is not visible from the Earth.

Aditya-L1 is a tribute to India’s ancient and modern fascination with the Sun and a testament to its spirit of innovation and exploration. As the mission’s motto says, “Aditya-L1: A journey to the Sun, for the benefit of all”.

What do you think about Aditya-L1?

I hope you enjoyed learning about Aditya-L1, India’s first solar mission, and how it will study the Sun from a unique vantage point. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them with me. We would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on this exciting mission.

😒What do you think are the most interesting aspects of Aditya-L1? How do you think it will help us understand the Sun better? What are some of the challenges and risks involved in such a mission? Let us know in the comments below.💬👇

`I hope you like this article, and learn something new. And if you want to learn more exoplanets, astronomy, A.I and other science topics, please check out our other articles and resources.`

📚 Sources:

(1) Congress hails Aditya-L1 launch, says nations build capacity of science not in few years but decades. | The Hans India
(2) Cong hails Aditya-L1 launch, says nations build capacity of science not in few years but decades. | MSN
(3) On Aditya-L1 launch, Congress hails ISRO, says India started sun journey in 2006. | MSN
(4) ADITYA-L1 Mission Details - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) | ISRO
(5) ADITYA-L1 - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) | ISRO
(6) Aditya L1 Mission Launch Date, Time, Budget, Objective, Model, Payloads | SSC NR
(7) Aditya L1 mission: ISRO to launch India's first Sun expedition today, days after Chandrayaan-3 landing. Top points. | Hindustan Times
(8) Aditya L1: First Indian space mission to study the sun. | WIONews
(9) Aditya-L1: Meet ISRO's women scientists who helmed India's first Solar mission. | India TV News
(10) Aditya-L1: India successfully launches its first mission of the Sun .... | BBC
(12) What is Aditya L1? All You Need To Know About India’s First Solar Mission. | Jagran Josh

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