In a groundbreaking moment, India has embarked on its inaugural solar observation mission, Aditya-L1, mere days after achieving a historic feat by becoming the first country to land a spacecraft near the Moon’s south pole.
The Aditya-L1 mission commenced from the launch pad at Sriharikota at 11:50 India time (06:20 GMT) on a recent Saturday. This remarkable spacecraft is set to journey 1.5 million kilometers (932,000 miles) away from Earth, which represents just 1% of the vast Earth-Sun distance. The Indian Space Research Agency (ISRO) estimates reaching this extraordinary destination will take approximately four months. Aditya-L1, named after Surya, the Hindu god of the Sun, and L1, signifying Lagrange point 1, is destined for a specific point between the Sun and Earth. Lagrange points are remarkable locations in space where the gravitational forces of two massive celestial bodies, such as the Sun and Earth, cancel each other out, enabling a spacecraft to seemingly “hover” in this celestial balance.
Upon reaching this strategic Lagrange point, Aditya-L1 will synchronize its orbit with that of Earth, requiring minimal fuel to sustain its operation. This cost-effective approach will enable Aditya-L1 to conduct continuous observations of the Sun, including during solar eclipses. The launch event drew several thousand people to the viewing gallery established by ISRO near the launch site. The momentous event was also broadcast live on national television, with commentators lauding it as a “magnificent” launch. ISRO scientists announced that the launch was a resounding success, with the spacecraft’s performance deemed normal.
An hour and four minutes into its flight, ISRO declared the mission “successful.” ISRO’s Chief, Sreedhara Panicker Somanath, expressed optimism about the spacecraft’s long journey ahead, spanning 135 days, and wished it “the best of luck.” Project Director Nigar Shaji highlighted that Aditya-L1’s benefits would extend not only to India but also to the global scientific community. Aditya-L1 is set to orbit the Earth multiple times before its journey to Lagrange point 1. From this vantage point, it will maintain continuous surveillance of the Sun, even during eclipses, facilitating invaluable scientific research.
While ISRO has not disclosed the mission’s exact cost, reports in the Indian press estimate it at 3.78 billion rupees ($46 million; £36 million). This mission represents a technological milestone for India and a significant contribution to the global understanding of our solar system’s most prominent celestial body, the Sun.
