• UGI USER
  • Feb 26, 2024
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ISRO: PAPA DETECTS SOLAR WIND IMPACT OF CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS:

Why in the news?

  • ISRO’s Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) aboard the Aditya-L1 spacecraft has identified the effects of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
  • Notably, PAPA’s advanced sensors successfully recorded CME impacts, including those observed on February 10-11, 2024.
source:slidechef

Highlighting the Functionality of PAPA:

  • Measures solar wind electrons and ions’ energy and mass.
  • Utilises SWEEP for electron analysis and SWICAR for ion analysis.
  • PAPA has been operational since December 12, 2023.
  • Contributes to ongoing research on solar wind dynamics and space weather.
  • Plays a vital role in advancing scientific understanding of solar phenomena.
What is Aditya-L1 Mission?

  •  India’s first solar observation mission on July 2023
  •  Launch Vehicle: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carrying 7 payloads.
  • Payloads: Include VELC, SUIT, SoLEXS, ASPEX, HEL1OS, PAPA, and Advanced Tri-axial High Resolution Digital Magnetometers.
  • Objective: Study the Sun’s corona, photosphere, chromosphere, solar emissions, solar winds, flares, and CMEs with continuous round-the-clock imaging.

What is L1 ?

  • L1 Orbit: Positioned approximately 1.5 million km from Earth, providing uninterrupted views of the Sun.
  • L1 Point: Lagrangian/Lagrange Point 1, exploiting gravitational forces to maintain spacecraft position efficiently.
  • Advantages: Enables continuous solar observation without eclipses; currently hosts the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory Satellite (SOHO), a collaboration between NASA and ESA.