In a historic achievement, the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57) successfully carried out the launch of the Aditya-L1 spacecraft on September 2, 2023, at 11:50 hrs from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota. This mission marks India’s inaugural endeavor to explore the Sun in-depth, further solidifying its presence in space research.
The Aditya-L1 spacecraft, designed as the first Indian space-based observatory to study the Sun, has been placed into an elliptical orbit measuring 235×19500 km around Earth following a precise flight duration of 63 minutes and 20 seconds.
One of the distinctive features of this mission is Aditya-L1’s trajectory. It will travel to a halo orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point (L1), situated approximately 1.5 million km from Earth. Prior to reaching this unique vantage point, the spacecraft will undergo four meticulously planned earth-bound orbital maneuvers. It is expected to reach its intended orbit at the L1 point in approximately 127 days from today’s successful launch.
Aditya-L1 carries a suite of seven state-of-the-art scientific payloads, all indigenously developed by ISRO in collaboration with national research laboratories, including the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru and the Inter University Centre for Astronomy & Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune. These instruments will play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of the Sun and its influence on various space weather phenomena.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi also extended his heartiest congratulations to the dedicated scientists and engineers at ISRO for this remarkable achievement. In a tweet, he expressed his pride in India’s continued progress in space exploration, emphasizing the tireless scientific efforts aimed at enhancing our comprehension of the Universe for the betterment of all humanity.
With the successful launch of Aditya-L1, India embarks on a new chapter in space research, contributing significantly to solar science and further cementing its position as a frontrunner in the global space community. This momentous achievement paves the way for groundbreaking discoveries that promise to benefit humanity as a whole.
Photo Credit: ISRO
