The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), has unveiled plans for its maiden Sun exploration mission, Aditya-L1. This announcement comes just days after its Chandrayaan-3 lunar probe began transmitting preliminary data from near the moon’s south pole.
Key Facts About Aditya L1 Mission
- The Sun exploration mission is set for September 2 at 11:50 am.
- The spacecraft, named Aditya-L1, will take off from Sriharikota spaceport.
- ISRO will use its reliable PSLV, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, for this mission.
- Aditya-L1 will journey for around 125 days to achieve its position, approximately 1.5 million km from Earth.
- The duration of the mission, once the spacecraft settles into its position, is still to be announced.
- Aditya-L1 is the first space-based observatory-class Indian solar mission to study the Sun.
- The spacecraft is scheduled to be positioned in a halo orbit encircling the Sun-Earth system’s Lagrangian point 1 (L1), situated approximately 1.5 million km away from Earth.
- Placing a satellite in the halo orbit around the L1 point offers a significant advantage: uninterrupted views of the Sun, free from any occultation or eclipse. This enables continuous observation of solar activities, providing valuable insights.
- The spacecraft will be equipped with seven payloads for this purpose.
- The mission’s execution involves the use of the highly dependable PSLV, in its more potent XL configuration, typically reserved for satellite launches.
- The initial phase includes placing the spacecraft in a Low Earth Orbit, followed by adjustments to make the orbit more elliptical.
- The spacecraft is then directed towards L1 using on-board propulsion, leading to its exit from Earth’s gravitational Sphere of Influence (SOI).
- Post exiting the SOI, the spacecraft enters the cruise phase before being injected into a large halo orbit around L1.
Understanding Lagrange Points
- Lagrange Points are five specific locations within a planet’s orbit. These points are the result of a unique interplay between the planet’s gravitational pull, the Sun, and the orbital motion of a spacecraft.
- They offer stable observation points and are named after Joseph-Louis Lagrange, an Italian astronomer and mathematician.
- There are five Lagrange Points designated as L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5.
- These points are named after the 18th-century Italian mathematician and astronomer, Joseph-Louis Lagrange.
- The L1 point is located approximately 1.5 million km from Earth, which is around 1% of the distance between Earth and the Sun (151 million km).
- The L1 point is the closest of the five Lagrange points. The L1 point provides an unhindered view of the Sun.
7 Science Payloads
- Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) studies solar corona and dynamics of coronal mass ejections.
- The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) captures images of the solar photosphere and chromosphere using near-ultraviolet wavelengths. Additionally, it quantifies variations in solar irradiance within the near-UV spectrum.
- The Aditya Solar wind Particle EXperiment (ASPEX) and the Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payloads are dedicated to studying the solar wind and energetic ions, including their energy distribution.
- SolarLow Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS) and The High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS) study the X-ray flares from the Sun over a wide X-ray energy range.
- Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers is capable of measuring interplanetary magnetic fields at L1 point.
Science Objectives Of Aditya L1 Mission
The major science objectives of Aditya-L1 mission are:
- Study of Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics.
- Study of chromospheric and coronal heating, physics of the partially ionised plasma, initiation of the coronal mass ejections, and flares
- Observe the in-situ particle and plasma environment providing data for the study of particle dynamics from the Sun.
- Physics of solar corona and its heating mechanism.
- Diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma: Temperature, velocity and density.
- Development, dynamics and origin of CMEs.
- Identify the sequence of processes that occur at multiple layers (chromosphere, base and extended corona) which eventually leads to solar eruptive events.
- Magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in the solar corona .
- Drivers for space weather (origin, composition and dynamics of solar wind .
Aditya-L1: Why India Wants To Explore The Sun
The Sun is our closest star and a unique natural lab for scientific analysis. Its dynamic nature and the extensive energy it releases surpasses what we can see from Earth. These energy releases can disrupt our space environment and interfere with spacecraft and communication systems. Therefore, it is crucial to closely examine the Sun to provide early warnings for these potentially disruptive events.
- The Sun, being the nearest star, can be studied in greater detail than any other celestial bodies.
- The Sun is not just what we see, it’s a dynamic star with frequent energy eruptions.
- These solar eruptions can cause significant disturbances in Earth’s space environment.
- These disturbances can affect spacecraft and our communication systems.
- Studying these solar phenomena closely allows for early detection and preventive action against potential disruptions.
What Makes The Aditya-L1 Mission So Ambitious?
The Aditya-L1 Mission is ambitious for various reasons:
- The mission is centred on conducting a close examination of the Sun, which is our nearest star constituted of helium and hydrogen, located approximately 150 million kilometres from Earth.
- Discoveries from this mission carry immense significance, particularly due to the Sun’s profound influence on Earth, ranging from sunlight to radiomagnetic disturbances caused by solar flares.
- The undertaking is a pioneering venture for India, joining other nations like the United States and the European Space Agency (ESA) that have previously launched orbiters for solar study.
- However, India’s project might stand out due to its potential cost-effectiveness.
- The spacecraft is designed to bring new insights about the Sun.
- It will carry seven payloads, four of which will observe the Sun’s outer layers using detectors for electromagnetic and particle fields.
- Its objectives include studying the causes for space weather and understanding solar wind dynamics.
- The Aditya-L1 payloads will provide crucial information to understand various solar phenomena.
- These include coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activities, and the dynamics of space weather.
- They will also study the propagation of particles and fields in the interplanetary medium.
- Understanding these aspects is important because the Sun affects many aspects on Earth, not just through sunlight.
- Solar flares can cause radiomagnetic disturbances on Earth. A deeper understanding of how these disturbances travel through space is required.
Significance Of Aditya-L1 Mission, And How Solar Exploration Is Different From Moon Exploration
The Aditya-L1 mission is a key scientific exploration of the Sun by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). While lunar missions are more frequent, missions to the Sun, like Aditya-L1, are rare due to the technical challenges involved. The mission will situate itself a minimal distance from the Sun, at a position favoured for solar study.
Studying the Sun is currently purely for scientific understanding, different from Moon missions which aim at resource extraction and potential colonisation. The knowledge gathered can help foresee Solar eruptions that could impact space-based communication or navigation systems.
Moreover, through the study of the Sun, scientists can gain valuable insights into the internal mechanisms of other stars. Through the Aditya-L1 mission, ISRO shows that it has the technological capability, resources, and expertise to contribute to all areas of planetary science.
The Aditya-L1 mission will take ISRO to new frontiers in space, covering a distance of 1.5 million kilometres, far surpassing the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which ventured only 400,000 kilometres from Earth. Notably, the Mangalyaan Orbiter delved even deeper, embarking on a separate trajectory spanning nearly 200 million kilometres.
Solar Missions Launched By Other Countries
1960–1969
NASA, the United States’ space agency, embarked on six groundbreaking Pioneer missions: 5, 6A, 7B, 8C, 9D, and E. Out of the six orbiter missions, five achieved success, while one experienced failure.
1974-1997
- Helios A (Germany-US, 1974 – 1982)
- Helios B (Germany-US, 1976 – 1985)
- ISEE-3 (Nasa, 1978–1982)
- Ulysses (ESANasa, 1994-95)
- WIND (Nasa, 19942020)
- SOHO (ESA-Nasa, 1996 extended till 2025)
- ACE (Nasa, 1997 until 2024)
All missions successful.
2000 to Present
- Ulysses (second pass, ESA-Nasa in 2000-01)
- Genesis (Nasa, from 2001-04)
- STEREO A (Nasa, launched in 2006 and active till Sept 2021)
- STEREO B (Nasa, 2006 to 2018)
- Ulysses (third pass, Nasa-ESA, 2007-08, partial success)
- DSCOVR (Nasa) February 2015 (successful)
- Parker Solar Probe (launched by Nasa, 2018 – Dec 2025; en route)
- Solar Orbiter (ESA February 10, 2020; en route)
- CuSP (Launched Nov 16 2022 but no contact now)
Other Planned Missions By ISRO
Besides Aditya-L1, ISRO is also planning a host of other missions:
XPoSat
- XPoSat, or X-ray Polarimeter Satellite, represents India’s first dedicated mission focused solely on polarimetry.
- It aims to explore the dynamics of bright X-ray sources in extreme cosmic conditions.
- The low earth orbit will house two scientific instruments aboard the XPoSat.
- This mission’s primary targets include black holes, neutron stars, pulsar wind nebulae, and active galactic nuclei.
- Through XPoSat, scientists hope to gain a better understanding of the mysterious signals emitted from these space entities.
NISAR
- NASA and ISRO are collectively developing a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) observatory known as NASA-ISRO SAR (NISAR).
- NISAR aims to map the entire globe in 12 days, providing consistent and reliable data to understand changes in various aspects including Earth’s ecosystems, Ice mass, Vegetation biomass, Sea level rise, Groundwater and Natural hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, and landslides.
- The mission is set to be launched in January 2024 with a minimum mission lifetime of three years.
- Through the NISAR Utilisation Programme (NISAR-UP), ISRO provides Indian researchers and scientists with the opportunity to access, analyse and interpret data from the NISAR satellite mission.
SPADEX
- SPADEX is short for Space Docking Experiment.
- This project is focused on improving technologies used for connecting spacecraft in orbit, also known as orbital rendezvous and docking.
- It also works on formation flying, a technique where multiple vehicles fly in a coordinated manner.
- Successful development in SPADEX will support future missions.
- These future missions might include human spaceflights or in-space satellite servicing tasks which would need docking capabilities.
LUPEX
- LUPEX is an upcoming Moon mission by ISRO, in partnership with Japan’s aerospace agency, JAXA.
- The collaboration has ISRO creating the lander, and JAXA developing the rover.
- The rover will carry instruments from not only ISRO and JAXA, but also NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
JAXA states that the goal of LUPEX is:
- To explore the Moon’s polar region for the viability of setting up a sustainable base.
- To gain insights about the availability of lunar water-ice resources.
- To showcase technologies for lunar and planetary surface exploration, including vehicle transport and overnight survival.
Shukrayaan-1
- SHUKRAYAAN-1 is also called the Venus Mission. The Shukrayaan I mission will be an orbiter mission.
- Although the specific details of this mission have not been disclosed yet, similar to past ISRO missions, the proposed Venus mission will prioritise scientific research while also demonstrating the technical expertise of the space agency.
- The mission aims to strike a balance between advancing our knowledge and showcasing ISRO’s capabilities in space exploration.
Mangalyaan 2
- Mangalyaan 2, the second mission to Mars, also known as the Mars Orbiter Mission 2, is an upcoming interplanetary expedition by ISRO scheduled for launch in 2024.
- The spacecraft will be equipped with advanced scientific instruments including a hyperspectral camera, a high-resolution panchromatic camera, and a radar.
- These state-of-the-art instruments will provide valuable insights into the early Martian crust, recent basalts, and boulder falls, contributing to our understanding of the Red Planet.
Gaganyaan: India’s First Manned Mission
The Gaganyaan project aims to showcase India’s human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members into a 400 km orbit for a mission lasting three days. The crew will then safely return to Earth, landing in the waters of the Indian Sea. This ambitious endeavor represents a significant milestone in India’s space exploration journey.
The mission involves advancing a multitude of critical technologies. These include human-rated launch vehicles, specifically designed to safely transport the crew to space. Additionally, the mission encompasses the development of a life support system that closely emulates Earth’s environment, as well as provisions for emergency escape. These key components are integral to the mission’s overall objective.
Vyommitra
On August 26, 2023, Union Minister Jitendra Singh provided a significant update on the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Gaganyaan mission. He announced that trials for the mission will commence in October. Notably, the second phase of the mission will involve the launch of ‘Vyommitra,’ a humanoid robot dressed in female attire, into space.
“After these two phases, astronauts numbering between one and three will be sent as part of the manned mission of the Gaganyaan project. I think this might start by 2024,” Singh said.
Vyommitra is a combination of two Sanskrit words Vyoma (Space) and Mitra (Friend). Vyommitra is the prototype of the half-humanoid and has been made for the first unmanned Gaganyaan mission. Female humanoid Vyommitra first made her appearance at the opening session of the 2021 event ‘Human Spaceflight and Exploration – Present Challenges and Future Trends’.
Vyommitra is specifically designed to perform various tasks that assess how humans would behave in space. Singh emphasised the need for extensive planning to ensure the astronauts’ safe return during such a mission. Vyommitra will replicate all the activities expected of astronauts, according to the minister.
The Covid-19 pandemic caused a delay in the Gaganyaan project, as stated by the Minister of Science and Technology.