India is preparing to launch its first observation mission to the Sun, following its recent historic achievement of becoming the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole. The mission, named Aditya-L1, is scheduled to blast off from Sriharikota’s launch pad on Saturday at 11:50 India time (06:20 GMT).
Aditya-L1 will be positioned at a distance of 1.5 million km (932,000 miles) from Earth, which is approximately 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. The Indian Space Research Agency (ISRO) estimates that it will take four months for the spacecraft to reach this destination.
The mission is named after Surya, the Hindu god of the Sun, also known as Aditya. The “L1” in the mission’s name refers to Lagrange point 1, the precise location between the Sun and Earth where the Indian spacecraft will be placed. Lagrange points are areas where the gravitational forces of two large objects, such as the Sun and Earth, cancel each other out, allowing a spacecraft to remain stationary. Once Aditya-L1 reaches this point, it will be able to orbit the Sun at the same rate as the Earth, requiring minimal fuel to operate.
Aditya-L1 will provide continuous observation of the Sun, even during eclipses, and conduct scientific studies. The orbiter is equipped with seven scientific instruments that will observe and study the solar corona (the outermost layer), the photosphere (the Sun’s surface), and the chromosphere (a thin layer of plasma between the photosphere and the corona). These studies will enhance scientists’ understanding of solar activity, such as solar wind and solar flares, and their impact on Earth and near-space weather in real time.
The Indian Space Research Agency has not disclosed the mission’s cost, but reports in the Indian press estimate it at 3.78 billion rupees ($46 million; £36 million).
Mylswamy Annadurai, a former ISRO scientist, explains that the Sun’s activities, such as solar wind and solar eruptions, influence Earth’s weather, as well as space weather. Understanding space weather is crucial for satellite functionality, as solar winds or storms can affect electronics and even disrupt power grids. Aditya-L1 will contribute to our knowledge of space weather, enabling better protection of satellites and increasing their longevity in space.
India currently has over 50 satellites in space, providing essential services such as communication links, weather data, and disaster prediction. Aditya-L1 will further enhance India’s capabilities in space observation and contribute to the country’s scientific understanding of the Sun, a 4.5 billion-year-old star that sustains our solar system.
If successful, India will join a select group of countries already studying the Sun. Japan launched the first mission to the Sun in 1981, focusing on solar flares, while NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have been observing the Sun since the 1990s. In February 2020, NASA and ESA jointly launched the Solar Orbiter, which is studying the Sun from close quarters and gathering valuable data. Additionally, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history in 2021 by flying through the Sun’s corona, its outer atmosphere.
India’s upcoming mission to the Sun demonstrates the country’s growing prowess in space exploration and its commitment to advancing scientific knowledge.
Source: BBC