On September 2, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) achieved another milestone in its space exploration endeavors by successfully launching the Aditya-L1 solar mission. This ambitious project comes on the heels of ISRO’s recent lunar expedition, Chandrayan-3, marking India’s continued dedication to pioneering space exploration.
The launch of the Aditya-L1 mission was a meticulously orchestrated event, with the 23:40-hour countdown culminating in the majestic ascent of the 44.4-meter-tall Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). The liftoff took place precisely at 11:50 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, situated on the Eastern coast, approximately 135 kilometers from Chennai.
Aditya-L1 is a groundbreaking mission as it signifies India’s first foray into space-based solar observation. After embarking on a 125-day journey spanning approximately 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth, the spacecraft will be positioned in a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1, which is the closest point to the Sun.
Among its primary objectives, Aditya-L1 will capture and transmit images of the Sun for scientific experiments. It will be stationed at one of the five Lagrangian points situated between Earth and the Sun, allowing it to maintain its position with minimal fuel consumption—a valuable feature for long-duration missions.
The PSLV-C57/Aditya-L1 mission ranks among ISRO’s most extended missions involving its dependable workhorse launch vehicle. Nevertheless, the record for the longest PSLV mission still belongs to the 2016 PSLV-C35 mission, which concluded two hours, 15 minutes, and 33 seconds after liftoff.
In its initial phase, Aditya-L1 will remain in Earth-bound orbits for 16 days. During this period, the spacecraft will undergo a series of five maneuvers to acquire the necessary velocity for its ambitious solar journey.
This mission represents a significant stride for India in the realm of space exploration. Aditya-L1’s study of the Sun from space-based observatories promises to unlock invaluable insights into our nearest star, enhance our understanding of solar phenomena, and contribute to the global body of scientific knowledge. As ISRO continues to push the boundaries of space exploration, the successful launch of the Aditya-L1 mission demonstrates India’s prowess and commitment to pioneering scientific discovery in the cosmos.
Aditya-L1 started generating the power.
— ISRO (@isro) September 2, 2023
The solar panels are deployed.
The first EarthBound firing to raise the orbit is scheduled for September 3, 2023, around 11:45 Hrs. IST pic.twitter.com/AObqoCUE8I
