Aditya-L1 launched to study the activities of the Sun, has now reached and inserted into Halo-orbit at 4 pm on the 6th of January 2024. Indian Space Research Organization has once again created history. Aditya-L1, launched to study the activities of the Sun, has now reached its orbit.
The Aditya-L1 spacecraft follows a Halo orbit that is periodic and located roughly 1.5 million km away from Earth, moving continuously along the Sun-Earth line. Its orbital period is approximately 177E86 Earth days. This Halo orbit is a three-dimensional orbit that involves the Sun, Earth, and Aditya L1, and it is periodic. For mission longevity and fuel efficiency, the spacecraft will follow a specific halo orbit that ensures a continuous, unobstructed view for a 5-year mission lifetime with minimal station-keeping manoeuvres.
Benefit of Aditya-L1
The Aditya-L1 mission is an Indian solar observatory located at the Lagrangian point L1. It aims to observe and understand the Sun’s chromospheric and coronal dynamics continuously. Placing Aditya-L1 in the halo orbit around L1 has advantages over Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
- The innovative process provides an unbeatable advantage for studying the interior of the sun. Offering a smooth and seamless change in the velocity of the spacecraft concerning the sun makes helioseismology an effortless and effective research method. Join the scientific community in exploring the mysteries of the sun with this pioneering process.
- It is suitable for “in situ” sampling of solar wind and particles since it lies outside Earth’s magnetosphere.
- It enables uninterrupted observation of the Sun and Earth, allowing for continuous communication to ground stations.
Launch of Aditya-L1
Aditya-L1 mission was launched on 2 September 2023 from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. Moreover, it was launched five months ago with PSLV-C57. Through this, ISRO will now get information about the mechanisms of the Sun including coronal heating, explosions on the Sun’s surface and solar winds. The budget of this mission is Rs 1,000 crore and its tenure is at least 5 years.
ISRO had sent 7 payloads with Aditya-L1. Of these, four payloads will work for monitoring the Sun. Three payloads are for in-situ use. Furthermore, the data received through these payloads will help in understanding the mysteries of the Sun and monitoring real-time solar activity.