The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced a significant milestone as its Aditya-L1 solar probe completed its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point 1 (L1). Launched on January 6, the spacecraft completed the orbit in 178 days, marking a crucial achievement in India’s space exploration endeavors.
To maintain its precise orbit, Aditya-L1 underwent three station-keeping manoeuvres on February 22, June 7, and July 2. These maneuvers are essential to counteract external forces that could otherwise disrupt the spacecraft’s trajectory, ensuring it remains on course for its scientific objectives.
The mission’s success was underscored by ISRO’s use of advanced flight dynamics software, which played a pivotal role in plotting the spacecraft’s path and executing necessary adjustments. The latest manoeuvre on July 2 validated ISRO’s in-house developed software, demonstrating its effectiveness in managing the complexities of orbital dynamics.
Aditya-L1’s primary objective is to study the Sun’s upper atmosphere, focusing specifically on the chromosphere and corona. The mission aims to unravel key aspects of solar physics such as heating mechanisms, ionised plasma dynamics, and phenomena like coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar flares. By observing the particle and plasma environment around the Sun, Aditya-L1 will contribute to understanding space weather and its impact on Earth.
With this successful orbit completion, ISRO has set the stage for further groundbreaking discoveries about our nearest star. As Aditya-L1 continues its mission, scientists anticipate valuable insights into the dynamics of the Sun and its influence on space weather, benefiting both scientific knowledge and practical applications.
The next phases of the Aditya-L1 mission will focus on detailed observations of solar phenomena and their implications for space environment research, further enhancing India’s capabilities in space science and exploration.
Sources By Agencies