'Sunsational success' as Aditya-L 1 reaches final orbit

New Delhi, Jan 6: The Aditya-L1, India’s maiden solar observatory, has successfully reached its final orbit.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed this achievement as yet another landmark in India's space exploration journey.

President Murmu congratulated ISRO for successfully placing India's first solar observatory Adiyta-L1 into its destination orbit and said the mission will benefit the entire humanity.

“Another grand feat accomplished by ISRO! As part of India’s maiden solar mission, Aditya L1, the observatory has been placed in the final orbit and reached its destination at Lagrange Point 1. Congratulations to the entire Indian scientist community for the great achievement! This mission will enhance our knowledge of the Sun-Earth System and benefit the entire humanity. Significant participation of women scientists in ISRO missions takes women empowerment too onto a higher orbit,” the President of India posted on microblogging site X.

Commending the dedicated efforts of the scientists involved, Prime Minister Modi posted on X, “India creates yet another landmark. India’s first solar observatory Aditya-L1 reaches its destination. It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising the most complex and intricate space missions. I join the nation in applauding this extraordinary feat. We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity.”

The PM’s words underscored the significance of this achievement, marking a pivotal milestone in India's space exploration capabilities.

The Aditya-L1 mission, aimed at studying the Sun and its various layers, has captured the attention of the scientific community and the public alike.

The successful positioning of the solar observatory in its designated orbit highlights India's growing prowess in space exploration and scientific research.

PM Modi emphasised the broader implications of such endeavours, stating, “We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity.”

This commitment to scientific exploration aligns with India's vision to contribute significantly to the global understanding of celestial phenomena and advance knowledge in the field of astrophysics.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also commended the historic achievement.

“Another milestone in Bharat's journey through space!! Our first solar observatory #AdityaL1 reaches its destination in space. It is a momentous event in history that takes us closer to our civilizational goal of achieving human welfare through excellence in science and technology. My heartfelt congratulations to our genius scientists and the people of our nation,” Shah posted on X.

The Aditya-L1 mission, with its focus on studying the Sun's outermost layer, the corona, is expected to provide valuable insights into the Sun's behaviour and its impact on space weather.

The successful culmination of this mission sets a positive tone for India's future space endeavours and further establishes ISRO as a key player in the international space community.

As the nation celebrates this triumph, the Aditya-L1 mission stands as a testament to India's technological capabilities and the dedication of its scientific community to pushing the boundaries of space exploration.

The global scientific community watches with anticipation as India continues to chart new territories in the realm of space research.

Aditya-L1, a dedicated satellite for the comprehensive study of the Sun, boasts seven distinct payloads, all developed indigenously – five by ISRO and two by Indian academic institutes in collaboration with ISRO.

The name ‘Aditya’ originates from Sanskrit, signifying the Sun, while ‘L1’ references Lagrange Point 1 of the Sun-Earth system.

This point in space is where the gravitational forces between two celestial bodies, such as the Sun and Earth, are in equilibrium, allowing an object placed there to maintain stability relative to both celestial bodies.

Launched on September 2, 2023, Aditya-L1 initially orbited the Earth for 16 days, undergoing five manoeuvres to attain the necessary velocity for its subsequent journey.

Positioned strategically at the L1 Lagrange point, Aditya-L1 enjoys a constant and uninterrupted view of the Sun.

This unique location enables the satellite to observe solar radiation and magnetic storms before they are influenced by Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.

The gravitational stability at the L1 point minimises the need for frequent orbital maintenance, optimizing the operational efficiency of the satellite.

Situated approximately 1.5 million km away from Earth, directed towards the Sun, Aditya-L1 maintains a distance of about 1 percent of the Earth-Sun distance.

As a result, it studies the outer atmosphere of the Sun, a giant sphere of gas.

Aditya-L1 will neither land on the Sun nor approach it any closer, emphasising the satellite's role in conducting critical observations without direct interaction with the solar surface.