Following the successful lunar mission, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is setting its sights on the Sun. Named after the Sun God in Hindu mythology, Aditya-L1 will embark on its journey atop the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL variant (PSLV-XL).
Scheduled for launch at 11:50 AM on September 2nd, the ISRO will introduce its maiden space-based observatory, Aditya-L1, designed to scrutinize the Sun. Enthusiasts are welcome to register for the opportunity to witness this event from the gallery at Sriharikota Spaceport in Andhra Pradesh.
Initially, the observatory will be positioned within a low earth orbit (LEO), transitioning later into an elliptical orbit. As the craft progresses towards its destination at the first Lagrange point (L1), it will traverse beyond the sphere of Earth’s gravitational influence.
This will initiate the cruise phase, culminating in the spacecraft’s placement into an extensive halo orbit encircling L1.
The expedition from launch to L1 will span approximately four months, covering a distance of approximately 1.5 million km from Earth.
The ISRO has outlined that Aditya-L1 houses seven distinct payloads tailored for observing the Sun’s photosphere, chromosphere, and outermost layers (corona). These scientific instruments encompass a range of electromagnetic, particle, and magnetic field detectors.
