Aditya-L1 Spacecraft Completed First Halo Orbit

Syllabus: GS3/Science and Technology

Context

• The Aditya-L1 spacecraft completing its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point marks a significant milestone in India’s space exploration efforts.

key points and context regarding the mission and its achievements:

1. Mission Overview:

   • Aditya-L1 is India’s first solar mission aimed at studying the Sun’s outermost layer, the corona, and its dynamics. It was launched on September 2, 2023, using the PSLV-C57 rocket.
   • The primary objective is to observe and understand the chromospheric and coronal processes of the Sun continuously.

2. Halo Orbit Achievement:

   • The spacecraft successfully entered its targeted halo orbit around the L1 Lagrange point on January 6, 2024.
   • The halo orbit around L1 takes approximately 178 days to complete one revolution. This orbit offers several advantages over a Low Earth Orbit (LEO), including continuous observation of the Sun and uninterrupted communication with Earth.

3. Advantages of Halo Orbit at L1:

   • Smooth Sun-Spacecraft Velocity: Ideal for helioseismology studies, as it maintains a stable relative position with respect to the Sun.
   • Outside Earth’s Magnetosphere: Enables in-situ sampling of solar wind and particles without interference from Earth’s magnetic field.
   • Continuous Observation: Provides uninterrupted views of the Sun, essential for long-term solar studies.

4. Payloads on Aditya-L1:

   • The spacecraft is equipped with seven payloads:
     • Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC)
     • Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)
     • Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS)
     • High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS)
     • Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX)
     • Plasma Analyser Package For Aditya (PAPA)
     • Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers

5. Comparison with Other Solar Missions:

   • NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and ESA’s Solar Orbiter are missions that study the Sun at different distances and angles compared to Aditya-L1.
   • Each mission has its unique objectives and orbits, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the Sun.

6. Significance of Lagrange Points

   • Lagrange points are stable regions in space where gravitational forces from two large bodies (in this case, the Sun and Earth) allow spacecraft to maintain their relative position with minimal propulsion.
   • L1 is particularly advantageous for solar observations due to its continuous view of the Sun and favorable conditions for solar wind sampling.

The Aditya-L1 mission’s successful placement into its halo orbit represents a step forward for India in solar research, contributing valuable data to global efforts in understanding solar phenomena and their impacts on Earth and space weather

Source: AIR