India’s first solar observatory mission to be launched today

India’s first solar observatory mission to be launched today

Subject: Science and technology

Section: Space Technology

Introduction

India’s first solar observatory mission, named AdityaL1, is set to launch on Saturday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. This mission aims to provide valuable insights into various aspects of solar activity and space weather.

Launch Details

• Launch Vehicle: The mission will be launched onboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)
• This mission is one of the longest missions involving ISRO’s PSLV.
• The spacecraft will stay in earthbound orbits for 16 days, during which it will undergo five maneuvers to gain the necessary velocity for its journey.
• Afterward, It will undergo a TransLagrangian1 insertion maneuver, marking the beginning of its 110-day trajectory to its destination.
• AdityaL1 will be positioned approximately 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth, directed towards the sun.
• This is about 1% of the distance between the Earth and the sun.

European Space Agency’s Support for Aditya-L1

• Deep Space Communication Support
  • ESA is offering deep space communication services to the mission.
  • ESA’s global network of deep space tracking stations, including locations in Australia, Spain, and Argentina, will track, command, and receive data from Aditya-L1 throughout its journey in the solar system.
  • ESA is also providing coordinated support from the Kourou station in French Guiana and the Goonhilly Earth Station in the UK, further enhancing communication capabilities.
• Ground Services
  • ESA is the primary provider of ground station services for Aditya-L1.
  • ESA stations will support the mission from its early stages, including the ‘Launch and Early Orbit Phase,’ throughout the journey to L1, and during routine operations for the next two years.

Aditya L1 Payloads:

• Seven Specialized Payloads: Observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the corona using electromagnetic, particle, and magnetic field detectors.
  • Direct Sun Observation: Four payloads directly study the Sun’s dynamics.
  • In-situ Studies: Three payloads provide data on solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium.