NEW DELHI (Agencies): India’s inaugural solar observatory, Aditya-L1, has successfully been positioned in orbit, as announced by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) on Saturday. The mission, initiated by ISRO last September, is equipped with seven distinct payloads to study sunlight and measure plasma and magnetic fields.
The spacecraft has reached Lagrange Point 1 (L1), a relatively stable location that will enable it to observe the Sun for the next five years. “Our achievement today is the precise placement based on our measurements and accurate prediction of the velocity requirement. As per our calculations, it is currently in the correct position, but we will continue to monitor it over the next few hours to confirm,” stated ISRO chairman S. Somanath.
Aditya-L1 is a one-of-a-kind spacecraft engineered to investigate all three layers of the Sun. Former ISRO chairman, Dr. Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, explained that a better understanding of solar activity ensures the safety of ground-based assets in sectors such as telecommunications, electricity, and aviation.
The solar probe will enable ISRO to expand its space assets due to the self-reliance provided by the program. It will also bolster the operations of the Indian Air Force in safeguarding the nation’s space-based assets.