Representational picture: X/@KirenRijiju
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has placed the Aditya-L1 spacecraft in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian level (L1).
India’s maiden photo voltaic mission Aditya L1 reached the L1 level on January 6, 127 days after it was launched on September 2, 2023.
Also learn: What are the Lagrange factors and why is Aditya-L1 headed to 1? | Explained
After a 1.5 million km lengthy journey the spacecraft was placed in a halo orbit around L1 following a firing manoeuvre which was carried out by ISRO Scientists and Engineers on the ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) in Bengaluru.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced that the Aditya-L1 has reached its vacation spot.
“India creates yet another landmark. India’s first solar observatory Aditya-L1 reaches it’s destination. It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising among the most complex and intricate space missions. I join the nation in applauding this extraordinary feat. We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity,” Mr Modi tweeted from his X (previously Twitter) account.
Aditya-L1 the primary Indian area based mostly observatory to check the Sun was launched on September 2, 2023 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
Subsequently, ISTRAC carried out 4 earth-bound manoeuvres between September 3 and September 15.
Aditya-L1 on September 19 underwent the Trans-Lagrangian 1 insertion manoeuvre, marking the start of its 110-day trajectory to the vacation spot around the L1 level.
L1 is roughly about 1.5 million km from the Earth and the space of L1 from Earth is roughly 1% of the Earth-Sun distance.
With the Aditya-L1 satellite tv for pc placed in the halo orbit around the L1 level it will likely be constantly viewing the Sun with none occultation/eclipse. This will present a higher benefit of observing the photo voltaic actions constantly. Aditya-L1 carries seven payloads to watch the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) utilizing electromagnetic and particle detectors.
Using the particular vantage level of L1, 4 payloads will instantly view the Sun and the remaining three payloads will perform in-situ research of particles and fields on the L1.
According to ISRO the satellite tv for pc will spend its complete mission life orbiting around L1 in an irregularly formed orbit in a aircraft roughly perpendicular to the road becoming a member of the Earth and the Sun.
Aditya-L1 has a mission life of 5 years throughout which its payloads are anticipated to supply probably the most essential info to grasp the issue of coronal heating; coronal mass ejection; pre-flare and flare actions and their traits; dynamics of area climate; and propagation of particles and fields.
Editorial | Onward, sunward: On India’s mission to check the solar
What are Lagrange factors?
According to ISRO, for a two-body gravitational system, the Lagrange Points are the positions in area the place a small object tends to remain, if put there. These factors in area for a two-body system corresponding to Sun and Earth can be utilized by the spacecraft to stay at these positions with decreased gas consumption. For two-body gravitational programs, there are complete 5 Lagrange factors, denoted as L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5.
What is the L1 level?
The L1 lies between the Sun-Earth line which is about 1.5 million km from the Earth. The distance of L1 from Earth is roughly 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. A satellite tv for pc placed in the halo orbit around the L1 level has the most important benefit of constantly viewing the Sun with none occultation/eclipse. This will present a higher benefit of observing the photo voltaic actions constantly.
There are presently 4 operational spacecraft at L1 that are WIND, Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) and Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVER).
Time line : Aditya-L1’s journey to Lagrangian level (L1).
The Aditya-L1 spacecraft launched by the PSLV from Sriharikota was placed into an elliptical orbit of 235×19500 km around the Earth.
Subsequently, ISTRC in Bengaluru carried out 4 earth-bound manoeuvres between September 3 and September 15.
First manoeuvre placed the spacecraft in the 245 km x 22459 km orbit.
Second manoeuvre placed the spacecraft in the 282 km x 40225 km orbit.
Third manoeuvre placed the spacecraft in the 296 km x 71767 km orbit.
Fourth manoeuvre placed the spacecraft in the 256 km x 121973 km orbit.
Aditya-L1 underwent the Trans-Lagrangian1 insertion manoeuvre, marking the start of its 110-day trajectory to the vacation spot around the L1 level.
