Why in Broadcast?

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched its solar mission, Aditya L1 on 2nd September, 2023 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

About Aditya L1 Mission

• Aditya L1 is first Indian space based mission to study the Sun, observe solar activities and their effect on space weather in real time.
• The spacecraft, after traveling about 1.5 million km from the Earth over 125 days, is expected to be placed in a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1 which is considered closest to the Sun.
• It carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic, particle and magnetic field detectors.
• The payloads comprise:

• Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
• Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
• Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)
• High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS
• Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX)
• Plasma Analyser Package For Aditya (PAPA)
• Advanced Tri-axial High-Resolution Digital Magnetometers

• 4 payloads will carry out remote sensing of the Sun while 3 payloads will carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1.

Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)

• It is one of the largest and one of primary payloads that would fly on Aditya L1 mission.
• It is capable of spectroscopy, simultaneous imaging, and spectro-polarimetry with help of coronograph, spectrograph, polarimetry module and detectors
• It would study the temperature, velocity and density of the corona, the processes that heat the corona and the acceleration of the solar winds.

Position of Aditya L1 Satellite

• The satellite will be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1), which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth.
• L1 is one of five points in the orbital plane of the Earth-Sun system, where the gravitational force of a two-body system produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion.
• These points can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position and continuously view the Sun without any occultation/eclipses.
• L1 point is also home to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Satellite (SOHO), an international collaboration project of NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Significance of Studying Sun

• The evolution of Earth or the exoplanets outside of the Solar System is controlled by the parent star.
• The earth weather systems are impacted by the solar weather and environment and thus understanding solar activities is essential.

Way Forward

• The recent success of Chandrayaan-3 embarked a major position to India in space world.
• Aditya L1 mission has the capability of further enhancing Indian position by placing it among the few nations that have successful sun mission.
• Through this mission India can contribute majorly in terms of understanding the space atmosphere, its effects and how the world can better adapt to these changes.