Tonight, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will perform the fourth earth-bound manoeuvre for its Aditya-L1 mission. The event will begin at 2 a.m. IST. This critical phase is part of a sequence of orbit-raising manoeuvres aimed to get the spacecraft ready for its ambitious voyage to Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1).
The trip of Aditya-L1, India’s first solar observatory, began on September 2. Since then, it has successfully completed three earth-bound manoeuvres, the most recent of which occurred on September 10. After the third manoeuvre, the new orbit was 296 km x 71767 km.
The fourth manoeuvre, slated for September 15, will increase the spacecraft’s orbit even more in preparation for its final destination.
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The most important of the Lagrangian points for solar observations is the L1 point, which was found by mathematician Joseph Louis Lagrange. With no occultation or eclipses, a satellite in the halo orbit around the L1 point may continually observe the Sun, enabling real-time studies of solar activity and their impacts on the space environment.
Seven payloads on Aditya-L1 are intended to research various Sun layers. Three of these payloads will conduct in-situ research on particles and fields near the L1 point, while the other four will observe the Sun directly.
These tools are anticipated to deliver essential data for comprehending, among other things, coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activity, and the dynamics of space weather.
The spacecraft will continue to raise its orbit after the fourth earth-bound manoeuvre before starting its 1.5 million mile voyage to the L1 point.
With the help of this mission, ISRO and India’s space research endeavours have reached an important turning point. It will help us better understand the Sun and how it affects our world.
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