India’s first solar mission, Aditya L1, was successfully launched on September 2, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh. The spacecraft will study the Sun’s corona, the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere.
Aditya L1 is a four-stage rocket, powered by solid and liquid fuels. It is about the size of a car and weighs about 1,500 kilograms. The spacecraft will be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1), which is a point in space where the gravitational pull of the Sun and the Earth are equal.
The mission is expected to last for five years. During that time, Aditya L1 will collect data on the Sun’s corona, including its composition, temperature, and dynamics. This data will help scientists to better understand the Sun and its impact on the Earth.
The Aditya L1 mission is a major milestone for India’s space program. It is the first in a series of solar missions that India plans to launch in the coming years. The mission is also a collaboration with NASA, which will provide some of the scientific instruments on board Aditya L1.
The successful launch of Aditya L1 is a testament to the growing capabilities of India’s space program. It is a proud moment for India and a significant step forward in our understanding of the Sun.
