Aditya-L1 mission: Solar wind ion spectrometer becomes operational, says ISRO

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Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Sunday said that the Solar Wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS), the second component of the Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) within its inaugural solar mission, Aditya L1, has become operational. "The Solar Wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS), the second instrument in the Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload is operational. The histogram illustrates the energy variations in proton and alpha particle counts captured by SWIS over 2-days," ISRO said in a post on X.

Also Read: ‘De-regularise’: ISRO chief says THESE factors could make India a satellite manufacturing hub As per a statement issued by ISRO, the Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload onboard India's Aditya-L1 satellite is performing normally. The release further noted that ASPEX comprises two cutting-edge instruments - the Solar wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS) and STEPS (SupraThermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer). “The STEPS instrument became operational on September 10, 2023.

The SWIS instrument was activated on November 2, 2023, and has exhibited optimal performance," the statement mentioned. Also Read: Aditya L-1 Mission: What next after the successful launch? ISRO said that the ASPEX has begun its measurements of solar wind ions. "SWIS, utilizing two sensor units with a remarkable 360° field of view each, operates in planes perpendicular to one another.

The instrument has successfully measured solar wind ions, primarily protons and alpha particles," the statement said. "A sample energy histogram acquired from one of the sensors over two days in November 2023 illustrates variations in proton (H ) and alpha particle (doubly ionized helium, He2 ) counts. These variations were