ISRO's Aditya L1 mission on the brink of Solar breakthrough, entering its ultimate orbit!
Aditya L1 mission, aimed at studying the Sun, is swiftly approaching its crucial moment of settling into its designated orbit, expected to occur on the evening of January 6. Launched on September 2, the spacecraft is on the cusp of entering what's termed a 'halo orbit' around the Lagrange Point 1 (L1), a unique position within the dynamic Sun-Earth system.
L1 stands out among the five points in this system where the gravitational forces between the Earth and the Sun reach equilibrium, making it relatively stable and ideal for the spacecraft's observations.
Positioned about 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth, this location offers a strategic vantage point to observe the Sun, merely accounting for 1% of the total distance between our planet and the Sun.
«Aditya L1 has already reached the L1 point, and the imminent manoeuvre on January 6 will precisely position it into the desired orbit. Without achieving this orbit, the spacecraft would continue its trajectory towards the Sun,» affirmed an ISRO official.
Crucially, entering a 'halo orbit' around L1 presents significant challenges.
Annapurni Subramaniam, director of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, explained, «Aditya L1 will transition into a halo orbit around the L1 point, synchronizing its movements with the Earth's orbit around the Sun.»
This intricate manoeuvre involves firing thrusters to alter the spacecraft's speed and trajectory. Dibyendu Nandi, Chair of the Aditya L1 mission's Space Weather and Monitoring Committee, emphasized its critical nature, stating, «Missing the intended orbit in the initial attempt would necessitate multiple subsequent corrections and thruster firings.»
During its 124-day space journey, Aditya commenced scientific data
