First Science Findings from Aditya-L1: A Breakthrough in Solar Research

First Science Findings from Aditya-L1: A Breakthrough in Solar Research

Sub : Sci

Sec :Space sector

Why in News

The Aditya-L1 mission, India’s pioneering space endeavour to study the sun, has delivered its first significant scientific result. This milestone showcases India’s advances in solar research and space technology.

About Aditya-L1 Mission:

The ADITYA-L1 mission is dedicated to studying the Sun and will fly approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth to the Lagrange point 1 (L1), one of the five favourable spots for observing the Sun.

The mission is expected to be launched using a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket.

It will provide regular images and updates on the Sun’s surface phenomena and space weather.

Primary Instrument: The mission features the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC).

Objective: The mission aims to observe and analyse solar phenomena, including coronal mass ejections (CMEs), to enhance understanding of solar activity and its impact on space weather.

What is VELC?

The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) is the largest payload on the Aditya-L1 mission. It is an internally occulted solar coronagraph capable of simultaneous imaging, spectroscopy, and Spectro-polarimetry close to the solar limb.

The VELC includes:

• Coronagraph: Blocks direct sunlight to observe the corona.
• Spectrograph: Analyses light to identify elements and measure various physical conditions.
• Polarimetry Module: Measures the polarization of light to study magnetic fields.
• Detectors and Auxiliary Optics: Capture and process images and data.

VELC is built by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at its CREST (Centre for Research and Education in Science and Technology) campus in Hosakote, Karnataka.

Purpose:

Observe the Solar Corona: The tenuous outermost layer of the solar atmosphere.

Analyze Coronal Conditions: Temperature, plasma velocity, and density.

Study Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): Large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields.

Examine Solar Wind: The continuous flow of charged particles from the sun.

About Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs):

What are CMEs – Large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona.

Composition: Particle radiation (mostly protons and electrons) and strong magnetic fields.

Speed: CMEs travel at very high speeds, often hundreds of kilometres per second.

Impact: CMEs can create shocks that ripple through the solar system and potentially disrupt satellites, communication systems, and power grids on Earth.

The Aditya-L1 mission, equipped with VELC and other payloads, aims to provide unprecedented insights into solar phenomena such as CMEs, thereby enhancing our understanding of the Sun’s impact on space weather and terrestrial technologies.