ISRO Set to Launch Aditya-L1: India's First Solar Mission to Study the Sun's Mysteries

ISRO readies for the historic Aditya-L1 solar mission launch on September 2, targeting Lagrangian Point 1 in 125 days. Key goals: Sun's mysteries, solar corona, solar wind, and space weather.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for the launch of Aditya-L today at 11:50 a.m. IST. (PTI)

ISRO's Aditya-L1 mission, aiming to reach L1 in 125 days, will investigate the Sun comprehensively using seven payloads, including the crucial VELC. This endeavor represents a significant achievement in Indian space exploration and paves the way for future missions like Gaganyaan, advancing our understanding of the cosmos.

1. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing for the launch of Aditya-L1, India's inaugural solar mission, scheduled for September 2, 11:50 am IST.

2. ISRO Chief S Somanath considers this launch to be of paramount importance, and he recently offered prayers at the Chengalamma Parameshwari Temple in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh, in anticipation of the mission.

3. Aditya-L1's primary objective is to study the Sun, and it is set to reach its designated Lagrangian Point 1 (L1) position in 125 days after launch.

4. The L1 point is situated 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth in the direction of the Sun, providing an ideal vantage point for continuous solar observation without interruptions from eclipses or occultations.

5. Aditya-L1 will be launched aboard the PSLV-C57 rocket and carries seven distinct payloads designed for an extensive investigation of the Sun.

6. Among these payloads, the most significant is the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), developed in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics.

7. The VELC instrument will enable Aditya-L1 to capture images of the Sun's corona, a challenging feat due to the Sun's intense brightness.

8. Scientists aim to explore various aspects of the Sun's behavior, including its corona's physics, heating mechanisms, solar wind acceleration, and the dynamics of the solar atmosphere.

9. Aditya-L1's data will be instrumental in understanding space weather, solar eruptive events, and their effects on Earth's space environment.

10. India's solar mission is motivated by a desire to deepen the understanding of solar phenomena and their impact on near-Earth space weather.

11. The mission will also investigate the origin of Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) and solar flares, crucial for predicting and mitigating their impact on Earth.

12. Aditya-L1 represents a significant milestone for Indian space exploration, and it precedes other forthcoming missions, including Gaganyaan, scheduled for launch in the first week of October.