The Aditya-L1 spacecraft, operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), successfully travelled beyond 9.2 lakh kilometres from Earth on Saturday, effectively escaping the influence of our planet.
Currently travelling 1.5 million kilometres from Earth to Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), the spacecraft is in a key place.
The Mars Orbiter Mission was the first time that Isro was able to launch a spacecraft beyond the influence of the planet Earth. The PSLV-C57 rocket will lift off the Aditya-L1 mission, India’s first mission specifically designed to be a solar observatory, on September 2, 2023.
Aditya-L1 Mission:
— ISRO (@isro) September 30, 2023
🔸The spacecraft has travelled beyond a distance of 9.2 lakh kilometres from Earth, successfully escaping the sphere of Earth's influence. It is now navigating its path towards the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1).
🔸This is the second time in succession that…
Seven separate payloads that are intended to research diverse elements of the Sun are carried by the spacecraft. Three of these payloads will monitor in-situ plasma and magnetic field characteristics, while the other four will track the Sun’s light.
Scientists will gain important knowledge from the data gathering, which started earlier this month, on the behaviour of particles around Earth, the genesis and acceleration of solar wind, and space weather occurrences.
Aditya-L1 will be put into a halo orbit, keeping a constant distance from the Sun, after it reaches the L1 point.
The spacecraft will be strategically positioned to constantly study the Sun throughout the course of its five-year mission, offering important solar insights and making a substantial contribution to our understanding of solar physics and heliophysics.
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