Aditya-L1 Mission: Aditya-L1 is scheduled to remain in Earth-bound orbits for a duration of 16 days, during which it will undergo a series of five maneuvers to acquire the necessary velocity for its upcoming journey.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that the initial Earth-bound firing to elevate Aditya-L1’s orbit is planned for approximately 11:45 am on Sunday. This launch follows the successful liftoff of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57.1), carrying the orbiter, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh’s Sriharikota.
Here are some key updates on the Aditya-L1 solar mission:
- ISRO stated on Saturday that “Aditya-L1 has commenced power generation with the deployment of its solar panels. The first Earth-bound firing to raise its orbit is scheduled for September 3, around 11:45 hours.”
- The Earth-bound maneuvers will involve rocket firings and angle adjustments as required. An illustrative analogy is to liken it to a person on a swing – similar to how pressure is applied to increase the swing’s height when it’s descending toward the ground. In Aditya-L1’s case, these maneuvers will enable it to attain the necessary velocity and follow its intended path towards L1.
- ISRO has successfully positioned the Aditya-L1 satellite precisely in its designated orbit.
- Aditya-L1 is planned to remain in Earth-bound orbits for 16 days, undergoing a total of five maneuvers to attain the required velocity for its mission, according to ISRO.
- Subsequently, Aditya-L1 will undergo a trans-Lagrangian1 insertion maneuver, marking the commencement of its 110-day journey towards its destination near the L1 Lagrange Point.
- Once it reaches the L1 point, another maneuver will lock Aditya-L1 into an orbit around L1, a gravitational balance point located between the Earth and the Sun. The satellite will spend its entire mission orbiting L1 in a non-circular orbit, positioned approximately perpendicular to the line connecting the Earth and the Sun.
- ISRO anticipates that the Aditya-L1 mission will reach its observation point in approximately four months. It will be positioned in a halo orbit around Lagrangian Point 1 (L1), situated 1.5 million kilometers from Earth in the direction of the Sun.
- The mission is equipped with seven distinct payloads designed for an in-depth study of the Sun. Four of these payloads will observe solar light, while the remaining three will measure in-situ parameters related to plasma and magnetic fields.
- The strategic positioning of Aditya-L1 will enable continuous solar observation without interruption from eclipses or occultation. This will facilitate real-time research on solar activities and their impact on space weather.
- The data collected by the spacecraft will contribute to identifying the sequence of events leading to solar eruptive events and enhancing our understanding of space weather phenomena.