After the success of Chandrayaan-3, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) is now preparing to launch India’s first solar observation space mission, Aditya-L1, on September 2. August 23 marked a significant day in history when Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the moon. This achievement not only marked a proud moment for ISRO but also for all Indians, as India became the fourth country to successfully land on the moon. The nation celebrated this achievement with great enthusiasm. However, a new milestone is just around the corner as ISRO is now set to achieve another feat for the country.
ISRO is fully prepared to launch India’s first solar observation space mission, Aditya-L1. This mission will study the Sun, making it the first space-based Indian mission for solar observation. The launch is scheduled for September 2, 2023, and it will take approximately 109 days to reach a distance of 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. The mission’s lifespan is expected to be more than 5 years.
Objectives of the Aditya-L1 Mission
ISRO has officially stated that the objectives of the Aditya-L1 mission include:
- Studying the dynamics of solar upper atmospheric variability (chromosphere and corona).
- Investigating chromospheric and coronal heating, including physical properties of partially ionized plasma, initiation of coronal mass ejections, and flares.
- Observing the particle dynamics from the Sun to provide data for studying solar particle variability, including the in-situ measurement of dust and plasma environment from In-Situ observations.
- Studying the thermal structure and variability of the solar corona.
- Determining the composition, dynamics, and sources of the solar wind.
- Identifying the sequence of processes on various layers (chromosphere, base, and extended corona) leading to solar eruptions.
- Mapping the magnetic field topology and the magnetic field measurements in the solar corona.
- Serving as a driver for space weather (solar wind generation, structure, and variability of the solar wind).
These objectives will help ISRO understand how solar activities influence the space environment and contribute to advancing knowledge about the Sun’s impact on the space environment.
