Aditya-L1 mission: What makes it unique?

Aditya-L1 mission is all about the satellite that is dedicated to study the Sun. "Aditya" in Sanskrit translates to the Sun, and "L1" denotes Lagrange Point 1 in the Sun-Earth system.

Aditya-L1 mission boasts seven distinct payloads, all crafted indigenously. Five of them are developed by ISRO, while the remaining two are collaborative efforts with Indian academic institutes.

L1 is where two celestial bodies' gravitational forces are in balance, creating a stable position in space. Aditya-L1 mission orbits here.

Launched on September 2, 2023, Aditya-L1 mission initially remained in Earth-bound orbit for 16 days, undergoing various crucial manoeuvres for its journey.

Following Earth-bound orbits, Aditya-L1 mission embarked on its 110-day journey to the L1 Lagrange point through a Trans-Lagrangian1 insertion manoeuvre.

Upon reaching L1, another manoeuvre will position Aditya-L1 in orbit around this stable point, enabling uninterrupted Sun observation.

Aditya-L1 mission's strategic placement at L1 ensures constant access to the Sun without interference from Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.

Gravitational stability at L1 minimises the need for frequent orbital maintenance, enhancing the satellite's efficiency.

The Aditya-L1 mission satellite will orbit approximately 1.5 million km from Earth, capturing the Sun's outer atmosphere from a safe distance.

Aditya-L1 will study the Sun's outer atmosphere, but it won't land on or approach the Sun any closer than this.