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Aditya-L1 Mission Reveals First Insights on Solar Eruptions
Why in the news?
India’s Aditya-L1 mission successfully predicted a coronal mass ejection, marking a significant advancement in solar research and enhancing understanding of space weather impacts on Earth.
Overview of Aditya-L1 Mission:
- The first scientific results from India’s Aditya-L1 mission, dedicated to studying the sun, have been released.
- Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in September 2023, Aditya-L1 carries the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAP) in Bengaluru.
Key Findings on Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs):
- Scientists predicted the onset of a coronal mass ejection (CME) that occurred on July 16, marking a significant achievement for the VELC.
- CMEs are powerful explosions from the sun that can affect satellite electronics and disrupt radio communications on Earth.
- The research, led by R. Ramesh and co-authors, will be published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters.
Importance of VELC Observations:
- Continuous monitoring of the sun with the VELC is anticipated to yield valuable scientific data regarding CMEs.
- Understanding the thermodynamic properties of CMEs is crucial for investigating their origins on the sun, as emphasised by study co-author Jagdev Singh.
- The VELC aims to enhance our understanding of solar dynamics and their impact on space weather and Earth’s technological systems.
Aditya-L1 Mission: Journey to L1 Lagrange Point
- Phase 1: Earth-Bound Orbits
- Launched into Earth-bound orbits for 16 days.
- Underwent 5 manoeuvres to gain velocity.
- Phase 2: Trans-Lagrangian Insertion
- Completed Trans-Lagrangian insertion manoeuvre.
- Entered a 110-day cruise phase toward L1, with trajectory adjustments.
- Phase 3: L1 Orbit Operations
- Arrived at L1 and established a halo orbit.
- Conducts solar studies using seven specialised payloads throughout the mission.
