Aditya-L1 Reached Destination
Source: PIB
GS III: Science and Technology
Overview
- About Aditya-L1 Mission
- What is L1 Lagrange Point 1?
Why in the News?
India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1, successfully entered the halo orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1).
- This marks a significant milestone for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
- With this, India has taken the first step towards completing its Solar mission.
Source: ISRO
News in Brief Aditya-L1 Reached Destination
- The spacecraft is in a poised position to embark on its mission to comprehensively study the Sun.
- It is equipped to relay valuable and insightful observations of the solar system.
- However, before it can commence its mission, there are a series of critical steps that need to be completed to ensure the spacecraft is ready to fulfil its purpose.
- Soon after, its seven payloads will come into action to find answers to some of the most intriguing questions about the Sun.
What is the Purpose of Aditya-L1 Mission?
- The primary goal is to understand why the Sun’s corona is astonishingly hot, reaching temperatures of up to 2 million degrees, in stark contrast to the relatively cooler surface of the Sun at around 5,000 degrees.
- Continuously observe the Sun for 24 hours a day, a feat not possible from Earth’s orbit, as the planet frequently obstructs the view.
About Aditya-L1 Mission
- Aditya-L1 is a satellite dedicated to the comprehensive study of the Sun.
- Aditya in Sanskrit means the Sun.
- Purpose: Observing and understanding the chromospheric and coronal dynamics of the Sun continuously.
- It has 7 distinct payloads developed, all developed indigenously.
- Five by ISRO and two by Indian academic institutes in collaboration with ISRO.
Schedule
- Aditya-L1 stays Earth-bound orbits for 16 days, during which it undergoes 5 maneuvres to gain the necessary velocity for its journey.
- Subsequently, Aditya-L1 undergoes a Trans-Lagrangian1 insertion maneuvre, marking the beginning of its 110-day trajectory to the destination around the L1 Lagrange point.
- Upon arrival at the L1 point, another maneuvre binds Aditya-L1 to an orbit around L1, a balanced gravitational location between the Earth and the Sun.
- The satellite spends its whole mission life orbiting around L1 in an irregularly shaped orbit in a plane roughly perpendicular to the line joining the Earth and the Sun.
How it will work?
- The strategic placement at the L1 Lagrange point ensures that Aditya-L1 can maintain a constant, uninterrupted view of the Sun.
- This location also allows the satellite to access solar radiation and magnetic storms before Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere influence them.
- Additionally, the L1 point’s gravitational stability minimizes the need for frequent orbital maintenance efforts, optimizing the satellite’s operational efficiency.
- Aditya-L1 will stay approximately 1.5 million km away from Earth, directed towards the Sun, which is about 1% of the Earth-Sun distance.
- The Sun is a giant sphere of gas and Aditya-L1 would study the outer atmosphere of the Sun.
- Aditya-L1 will neither land on the Sun nor approach the Sun any closer.
What is L1 Lagrange Point 1 and Halo orbit?
- L1 here refers to Lagrange Point 1 of the Sun-Earth system.
- For common understanding, L1 is a location in space where the gravitational forces of two celestial bodies, such as the Sun and Earth, are in equilibrium.
- This allows an object placed there to remain relatively stable concerning both celestial bodies.
About Halo orbit
Halo orbit is a periodic, three-dimensional orbit at L1 involving Sun, Earth and a spacecraft. This specific halo orbit is selected to ensure a mission lifetime of 5 years, minimising station-keeping manoeuvres and thus fuel consumption and ensuring a continuous, unobstructed view of sun.
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