India has achieved a new milestone in its space exploration program, as its first solar observatory Aditya-L1 has successfully reached its final orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 1 (L1), about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the news on Twitter, praising the dedication and hard work of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and its scientists in accomplishing one of the most complex and intricate space missions.
“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,” he tweeted.
Aditya-L1 is a coronagraphy spacecraft that will study the solar atmosphere, solar magnetic storms, and their impact on the environment around the Earth. It will also observe the physical particle environment around its position and determine the sequence of processes in multiple layers below the corona that lead to solar eruptions.
The mission was launched on 2 September 2023 by a PSLV-XL rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. It was inserted at the L1 point on 6 January 2024, at 4:17 pm IST, after performing a series of orbit-raising maneuvers and a final orbit insertion maneuve.
Aditya-L1 is the first Indian mission dedicated to observe the Sun and the fourth spacecraft in the world to be placed at the L1 point, after SOHO, ACE, and DSCOVR. It is expected to operate for at least five years, providing valuable data and insights into the solar physics and space weather.
Aditya-L1 is also a precursor to future solar missions by ISRO, such as Aditya-L2 and Aditya-L3, which will carry more advanced instruments and explore deeper aspects of the Sun and its influence on the solar system.
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