ISRO's Aditya L1 mission at L1 Lagrange point observes the sun, enhances space weather understanding globally
A milestone in ISRO’s Space Odyssey: Unveiling the
Sun’s secrets
By Ramesh
Sundaram, Editor in Chief
(ISRO's Aditya L1 mission at L1 Lagrange point observes the sun, enhances space weather understanding globally.)
This Editorial was published in the January 2024 edition of PreSense
Successful launch of Aditya L1 mission – On January 6,
2024, the halo-orbit insertion of the Aditya-L1 Solar observatory spacecraft
was successfully accomplished. The Spacecraft was precisely placed in L1
Lagrange point. It marked a milestone in ISRO’s space missions. The mission was
launched on September 2, 2023 and aims to provide valuable insights into solar
activities. The mission enjoys an uninterrupted view of the sun. This is
because it is positioned at a distance of approximately 1.5 million km from the
Earth, at the first Lagrange point (L1), a perfect spot between the Earth and
the Sun, where there is almost zero gravitational pull either from the sun or
the Earth. (At the L1 point in space gravitational forces from both the Sun and the Earth
are counteracted by the centripetal force necessary to maintain an object's equilibrium)
The advantage of L1 Point
The L1 point is
a unique location in space where gravitational forces from both the Sun and the
Earth are counteracted by the centripetal force necessary to maintain an
object's motion under the influence of gravity. This equilibrium at L1 will
keep Aditya-L1 stable, allowing it to orbit effortlessly in the halo orbit
without expending significant fuel.
The heat shield
The Aditya-L1
spacecraft is also equipped with a heat shield, which will reflect most of the
Sun's heat away from the spacecraft, keeping it cool enough to operate. This
strategic positioning and protective shielding allow Aditya-L1 to monitor the
Sun and carry out scientific studies continuously.
The Sun
The Sun is the closest star to our earth and it is
around the sun our planetary system revolves. The Sun may look like one simple
mass of fire. But beneath its surface, there is a gamut of activity – that
which imparts a great influence on our planet in many ways. The solar flares, a
steady stream of charged particles, and coronal mass ejections can affect our
satellite communications, bring to a standstill power grids, and even affect
spacecraft and astronauts.
Hence Indian Space Agency ISRO launched the Aditya L1
Mission to unravel these mysteries and find a way to shield the Earth from
harmful radiations like solar flares.
The best Celestial point to observe the sun: While the
ground telescopes are affected by the Earth’s rotation and atmosphere, Aditya
L1 spacecraft enjoys a privileged and uninterrupted view of the Sun. Its
viewing is not affected even during the eclipse.
Aditya L1’s scientific pay-load
The Aditya L1 spacecraft is loaded with seven
instruments. Four instruments scan the Sun’s fiery expanse by dissecting its
emissions. The other three instruments analyse the environment by measuring the
energetic particles, solar winds, and magnetic fields. In toto, these
instruments provide a deep insight, crucial for the study and observation of
solar activity. The mission seeks to forecast coronal mass ejections thus
providing much-needed early warning for potentially disruptive space weather
incidents. The life span of Aditya L1 mission is expected to be around 5 years.
Ambitious space programme
The Aditya L1 mission is a cornerstone in India’s
ambitious space programme while symbolizing significant advancement in its
astronomical research. It has not only positioned India as a major leader in
solar physics but has also paved the way for future space missions dedicated to
understanding in a better way other celestial bodies and their impact on our
planet.
The expectations and aspirations: The Aditya L1
mission carries the hopes of a planet that is eager to know about the sun and
to protect the planet in the face of unpredictable cosmic flare-ups from our
nearest star.
Conclusion
Aditya L1 mission marks a significant milestone in
India’s space research programme. The data collected from this endeavour will
not only enhance our knowledge about the Sun and its activities but also
contribute towards international scientists understanding of space weather and
its effects on the Earth.
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