As the clock ticks towards 4 pm today, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a historic moment – the final maneuvers to place the Aditya-L1 spacecraft into the Halo orbit around the L1 point of the Sun-Earth system.
ISRO Chief S Somanath expressed excitement, stating, “Aditya-L1 is going to reach its L1 point on January 6 at 4 pm, and we are going to do the final maneuver to keep it there.”
Launched on September 2, 2023, the Aditya-L1 mission has successfully undergone four earth-bound maneuvers and a Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TL1I) maneuver. Now, the spacecraft is poised for its ultimate journey, aiming to reach a destination approximately 1.5 million km from Earth.
The final maneuver holds significant importance as it will position the spacecraft in a halo orbit around Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system. This unique orbit, situated at about 1.5 million km from Earth, offers an unobstructed view of the Sun, free from eclipses.
The Lagrange Point, where gravitational forces between the Earth and the Sun find equilibrium, provides an ideal position for observations. While full neutralization is impeded by other celestial bodies, such as the Moon, Mars, and Venus, the L1 point remains stable enough for scientific endeavors.
The Aditya-L1 mission is poised to observe the Sun’s corona, unraveling the mysteries of its extreme heat. The spacecraft’s vantage point at the Sun-Earth L1 point allows for unprecedented insights into solar phenomena.
As ISRO prepares for this crucial maneuver, the Aditya-L1 mission represents a significant stride in India’s space exploration endeavors. The successful injection of the spacecraft into its final orbit will mark a historic achievement, paving the way for groundbreaking observations and discoveries in solar science.
