ISRO to soon launch Aditya-L1

Published
27th Jan, 2023

Context

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is planning to launch the Aditya-L1 mission by June or July this year.

About Aditya-L1 mission

Aditya-L1 Mission is India’s first solar mission planned by ISRO. Earlier the name was Aditya -1, which has been renamed as Aditya-L1 Mission.
Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space mission to observe the Sun and the solar corona.
It is ISRO’s second space-based astronomy mission after AstroSat for a scientific expedition to study the Sun.
ISRO planned to place the satellite in the halo orbit around the Lagrangian Point (L1). Hence the mission was renamed as Aditya L1 mission.

Objectives of the mission

to help in tracking Earth-directed storms and predict their impact through solar observations

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona.

to research the Sun’s corona (Visible and Near-infrared rays), photosphere (soft and hard X-ray), chromosphere (Ultra Violet rays), solar emissions, solar winds and flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), as well as conduct round-the-clock imaging of the Sun

Payloads used for the mission

The 1,500 kg satellite carries seven science payloads with diverse objectives.
Seven science payloads:
- Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
- Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
- Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX)
- Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya
- Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)
- High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS)
- Magnetometer

What are Lagrange Points?

Lagrange points are named in honour of Italian-French mathematician Josephy-Louis Lagrange.

Lagrange Points are positioned in space where the gravitational forces of a two-body system like the Sun and the Earth produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion.
These can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position.

Types:

There are five Lagrange points in the Sun-Earth system. Of the five Lagrange points in the Sun-Earth system, only the last two, called L4 and L5, are stable. Satellites at the First three points need constant adjustments to stay balanced and in place.

L-1: The first Lagrange point is located between the Earth and the Sun, giving satellites at this point a constant view of the Sun.
- The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), a NASA and European Space Agency satellite tasked to monitor the Sun, orbits the first Lagrange point, about 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth.
L-2: The second Lagrange point is about the same distance from the Earth, but is located behind the Earth. Earth is always between the second Lagrange point and the Sun.
- Since the Sun and Earth are in a single line, satellites at this location only need one heat shield to block heat and light from the Sun and Earth. It is a good location for space telescopes.
L-3: The third Lagrange point is opposite the Earth on the other side of the Sun so that the Sun is always between it and Earth.
- A satellite in this position would not be able to communicate with Earth. The extremely stable fourth and fifth Lagrange points are in Earth’s orbital path around the Sun, 60 degrees ahead of and behind Earth.
L4 and L5 are 60° ahead and behind the Earth in the same orbit.