ISRO Achieves Milestone: Successful Second Orbit-Raising Maneuver For Aditya-L1

ISRO Achieves Milestone: Successful Second Orbit-Raising Maneuver For Aditya-L1

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully performed the second orbit-raising maneuver for its ambitious solar mission, Aditya-L1, on September 21, 2023. The maneuver was carried out using the onboard propulsion system of the spacecraft, which is currently in a highly elliptical orbit around the Earth. The maneuver increased the apogee (farthest point from Earth) of the orbit from about 72,000 km to about 200,000 km. 

Aditya-L1 is India's first space-based observatory to study the Sun and its various phenomena, such as the solar corona, solar wind, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and space weather. The mission aims to provide valuable insights into the physics of the solar atmosphere and the origin of the solar wind, which affects the environment around the Earth and other planets. 

The mission was launched on September 2, 2023, aboard the PSLV C57 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. The launch was a historic moment for ISRO, as it came just ten days after the successful landing of its lunar mission, Chandrayaan-3, on the Moon. 

The spacecraft is expected to reach its final destination, the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, in January 2024. The L1 point is a stable point in space, about 1.5 million km from the Earth, where the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Earth balance each other. The spacecraft will orbit around the L1 point in a halo orbit, which will allow it to have a continuous view of the Sun without any interference from the Earth or the Moon. 

The spacecraft carries a suite of seven scientific instruments, which will observe the Sun in different wavelengths and measure the energetic particles in the solar wind. The instruments are:

- Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC): This is the main instrument of the mission, which will image the solar corona in visible light and measure its magnetic field. The coronagraph will block the bright light from the solar disk, allowing the observation of the faint corona, which extends up to several solar radii. The instrument will also study the origin and evolution of coronal mass ejections, which are huge eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun that can affect the Earth's magnetosphere and cause geomagnetic storms. 
- Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT): This instrument will image the Sun in the ultraviolet wavelength, which reveals the features of the lower solar atmosphere, such as the chromosphere and the transition region. The instrument will also measure the solar irradiance, which is the amount of energy emitted by the Sun that reaches the Earth. The solar irradiance varies with the solar activity cycle and influences the climate and the biosphere of the Earth. 
- Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX): This instrument will measure the properties of the solar wind particles, such as their energy, mass, charge, and direction. The solar wind is a stream of charged particles that flows outwards from the Sun at high speeds. The instrument will also study the variations of the solar wind with the solar activity and the interaction of the solar wind with the interplanetary magnetic field. 
- Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA): This instrument will measure the density, temperature, and velocity of the thermal plasma in the solar wind. The thermal plasma is the component of the solar wind that consists of low-energy particles that follow the Maxwellian distribution. The instrument will also study the turbulence and waves in the solar wind plasma and their effects on the transport and heating of the plasma. 
- Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS): This instrument will measure the low-energy X-rays emitted by the Sun, which are produced by the heating and acceleration of electrons in the solar atmosphere. The instrument will also study the solar flares, which are sudden bursts of high-energy radiation from the Sun that can affect the communication and navigation systems on the Earth. 
- High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS): This instrument will measure the high-energy X-rays and gamma-rays emitted by the Sun, which are produced by the nuclear reactions and the acceleration of ions in the solar atmosphere. The instrument will also study the solar flares and the solar energetic particles, which are high-energy particles that can reach the Earth and pose a radiation hazard for astronauts and satellites. 
- Supra Thermal & Energetic Particle Spectrometer (STEPS): This instrument will measure the supra thermal and energetic particles in the solar wind, which are the component of the solar wind that consists of high-energy particles that do not follow the Maxwellian distribution. The instrument will also study the acceleration and propagation mechanisms of these particles and their effects on the space environment. 

The Aditya-L1 mission is a collaborative effort of ISRO and various Indian research institutes, such as the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), the Space Applications Centre (SAC), the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), and the National Institute of Technology (NIT). 

The mission is expected to provide valuable data and insights into the Sun and its influence on the Earth and the solar system for the next five years. The mission will also contribute to the international efforts of understanding the Sun and its impact on the space weather and the climate change.  

The Aditya-L1 mission is a milestone for ISRO and India, as it demonstrates the country's capabilities and aspirations in the field of space science and exploration. The mission will also inspire the young generation of Indians to pursue careers and research in science and technology.

Source: 

(1) ISRO’s Aditya L1 mission: Spacecraft may need Trajectory Correction Manoeuvre as anomalies kick in. https://www.financialexpress.com/life/science-isros-aditya-l1-mission-spacecraft-may-need-trajectory-correction-manoeuvre-as-anomalies-kick-in-3251719/.
(4) ADITYA-L1 Mission Details - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). https://www.isro.gov.in/Aditya_L1-MissionDetails.html.
(5) Aditya-L1 - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aditya-L1.
(6) ADITYA-L1 MISSION - Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). https://www.isro.gov.in/media_isro/pdf/Aditya_L1_Booklet.pdf.
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