ISRO’s Aditya-L1 Solar Mission Launch Scheduled for September 2: Countdown and Viewing Information
After the successful soft landing of Chandrayaan-3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is poised to embark on a groundbreaking journey with the launch of India’s maiden solar mission, Aditya-L1. The Aditya-L1 spacecraft is designed for remote observations of the solar corona and in situ measurements of the solar wind at the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point known as L1, situated approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.
This ambitious mission represents India’s first solar space observatory and is scheduled for liftoff on September 2 at 11:50 am from the Sriharikota spaceport. Ahead of the launch, ISRO has confirmed that Aditya-L1 has successfully completed launch rehearsals and internal checks.
Where to Watch the Aditya-L1 Mission Live
For those eager to witness this historic event, the live telecast will be available on Doordarshan channel and ISRO’s YouTube channel. ISRO has shared the link for the live telecast of the Aditya-L1 Mission, which is set to commence at 11:50 am Indian Standard Time (IST) tomorrow.
Key Objectives of the Aditya-L1 Mission
Aditya-L1 will be placed in a halo orbit around Lagrangian Point 1 (L1), a distance of 1.5 million kilometers from Earth in the direction of the Sun. The spacecraft is expected to reach its designated mission site in approximately four months. This unique location offers uninterrupted observations of the Sun, free from eclipses or occultation, allowing scientists to study solar activities and their impact on space weather in real-time. The data collected by the spacecraft will also aid in identifying the processes leading to solar eruptive events, advancing our understanding of space weather drivers.
The major objectives of India’s solar mission include:
- Studying Solar Corona: Investigating the physics of the solar corona and its heating mechanism.
- Solar Wind Dynamics: Analyzing solar wind acceleration, coupling, and dynamics of the solar atmosphere.
- Solar Wind Properties: Measuring solar wind distribution, temperature anisotropy, and origin of Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) and flares.
- Space Weather Impact: Understanding the near-Earth space weather and its drivers.
ISRO Chairman S Somanath expressed confidence in the mission’s readiness, stating, “We are just getting ready for the launch. The rocket and satellite are ready. We completed the rehearsal for the launch. So tomorrow we have to start the countdown for the day after tomorrow’s launch.”
In addition to the Aditya-L1 mission, ISRO Chairman Somanath provided an update on Chandrayaan-3, highlighting that the rover Pragyan is operating smoothly on the lunar surface, and the mission is progressing well. ISRO remains hopeful that the mission will be successfully completed within the next 14 Earth days, marking another significant achievement for India’s space exploration endeavors.
Leave a Reply