Ayodeji Ayenuwa
India is getting ready for another historic space mission immediately after its recent Moon landing triumph. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) is set to launch its first solar observation mission, Aditya-L1, from the Sriharikota spaceport in Andhra Pradesh.
Aditya-L1, named after the Hindi word for the Sun, is set to embark on a 125-day journey, covering a distance of 1.5 million kilometers to its designated position in space, where it will remain stationary with minimal fuel consumption. This Lagrange Point 1 (L1) location will provide an unobstructed, continuous view of the Sun, which will be a major advantage for scientific observations.
The goal of this Mission includes studying the Sun’s various layers, including the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. Aditya-L1 will also investigate solar wind, which has the potential to disrupt Earth’s communications and navigation systems.
In 2019, a budget of $45 million was allocated for the mission, which shows India’s commitment to advancing its space exploration endeavors.
Last week, India was celebrated by the world as the fourth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the Moon. This endeavor underscores ISRO’s ambition to further expand its space program. Chairman S. Somanath revealed plans for a human spaceflight program with the aim of launching astronauts into orbit by 2025.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also announced an upcoming Venus mission following his endorsement of ISRO’s vision. If Aditya-L1’s mission proceeds as planned, it will enter into a halo orbit around one of the five Lagrange points, referred to as “parking spots” in space, where probes can maintain a consistent orbit pattern while conserving fuel.
This endeavor will place India among a select group of countries studying the Sun. China already operates two solar observation spacecraft, including the famous Advanced Space-Based Solar Observatory. Japan’s Hinode mission and joint NASA-European Space Agency mission Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) are active in solar research.
Likewise, the U.S. boasts its own solar missions, including the Parker Solar Probe, which boldly ventured into the sun’s corona in 2021.
India’s Aditya-L1 mission is poised to provide valuable insight into the workings of the Sun, its dynamics, and its impact on our space environment. This significant step forward solidifies India’s position in the global space exploration arena, showcasing the country’s ever-growing prowess in space science and technology.
