India‘s space agency, ISRO, has successfully launched its first solar observation mission, Aditya-L1, from the Sriharikota launch pad.
This mission aims to study the Sun from a vantage point known as Lagrange Point 1 (L1), which is located between the Earth and the Sun.
Aditya-L1 will orbit the Sun at the same rate as the Earth, allowing it to provide continuous observations, even during eclipses. The data collected will help scientists better understand solar activity and its impact on Earth’s weather and near-space conditions.
The mission, named after the Hindu god of the Sun, Surya, will travel 1.5 million km (932,000 miles) from Earth over four months to reach L1. Once there, it will carry out scientific studies of the Sun’s corona, photosphere, and chromosphere.
The launch of Aditya-L1 follows India’s recent success in landing a probe near the Moon‘s south pole. With this solar mission, India joins a select group of countries, including Japan, NASA, and the European Space Agency, in studying our star, the Sun, to gain insights into its dynamic behavior and its effects on our planet and near-space environment.
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