New Delhi – India has reached another remarkable milestone in space exploration by launching its inaugural solar observation mission, just days after its historic lunar landing near the Moon’s south pole. The Aditya-L1 mission commenced from the launch pad at Sriharikota on Saturday at 11:50 AM India time (06:20 GMT). This ambitious mission will take the spacecraft 1.5 million km (932,000 miles) from Earth, representing a mere 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. India’s space agency, the Indian Space Research Agency (ISRO), estimates that it will take approximately four months for Aditya-L1 to reach its destination.
This pioneering space-based mission, named after Surya, the Hindu god of the Sun (also known as Aditya), aims to study the Sun in depth and is headed for Lagrange point 1 (L1) – the precise location between the Sun and Earth where gravitational forces cancel each other out, enabling the spacecraft to “hover,” as defined by the European Space Agency.
Once Aditya-L1 reaches this “parking spot,” it will maintain an orbit around the Sun synchronized with Earth’s orbit, requiring minimal fuel for operation. The launch drew an audience of thousands to the viewing gallery set up by ISRO near the launch site, while it was also broadcast live on national television, with commentators hailing it as a “magnificent” success. ISRO scientists confirmed the mission’s success an hour and four minutes into the flight.
ISRO Chief Sreedhara Panicker Somanath expressed optimism for the mission, saying, “Now it will continue on its journey – it’s a very long journey of 135 days, let’s wish it [the] best of luck.” Project director Nigar Shaji highlighted the mission’s global significance, emphasizing its benefits not only for India but also for the worldwide scientific community.
Before reaching L1, Aditya-L1 will complete several orbits around Earth. From its vantage point at L1, the satellite will continuously observe the Sun, even during eclipses, conducting scientific studies. While ISRO has not disclosed the mission’s cost, Indian media reports estimate it at 3.78 billion rupees ($46 million; £36 million).
The orbiter carries seven scientific instruments designed to study the solar corona (the outermost layer), the photosphere (the visible surface of the Sun), and the chromosphere (a thin layer of plasma between the photosphere and the corona). These studies will enhance our understanding of solar activity, including solar wind and solar flares, and their impacts on Earth and near-space weather in real time.
Former ISRO scientist Mylswamy Annadurai emphasized the Sun’s influence on Earth’s weather, including radiation, heat, particle flow, and magnetic fields. He also stressed the significance of space weather on satellite operations, stating, “Space weather plays a role in how effectively the satellites function. Solar winds or storms can affect the electronics on satellites, even knock down power grids. But there are gaps in our knowledge of space weather.”
Aditya-L1 is expected to provide valuable insights into space weather patterns and serve as a precursor to predict solar events that may affect satellite operations, thus prolonging their lifespan.
This mission not only reinforces India’s growing stature in the field of space exploration but also contributes to advancing our scientific understanding of the Sun, a celestial body that has played a pivotal role in shaping our solar system for billions of years.
India’s achievement with the Aditya-L1 mission comes on the heels of its successful lunar landing near the Moon’s south pole, making India the fourth country globally, after the US, the former Soviet Union, and China, to achieve a soft lunar landing.