After executing the last maneuver at 4 PM today, Aditya L1, the Indian Space Research Organization’s (ISRO) ambitious first mission to study the Sun, has arrived at its ultimate destination. Now that it is in the halo orbit, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft may investigate the Sun from the Sun-Earth system’s Lagrange point 1 (L1). The L1 point represents 1% of the total distance between Earth and the Sun and is located approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth.

In order to study the Sun’s intense heat and monitor its corona from a halo orbit around the first Sun-Earth Lagrangian point (L1), Aditya L-1 was launched. The spacecraft has reportedly traveled the majority of the way to its goal, according to Isro.

ISRO, its first statement after the insertion, said: “The Sun is a very dynamic star that extends much beyond what we see. It shows several eruptive phenomena and releases immense amounts of energy in the solar system. If such explosive solar phenomena is directed towards the earth, it could cause various types of disturbances in the near-earth space environment.” 

Lauding the achievement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “India creates yet another landmark. India’s first solar observatory, Aditya-L1 reaches its destination.”

He added: “It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising among the most complex and intricate space missions. I join the nation in applauding this extraordinary feat. We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity.”

Aditya L1 will now undergo a commissioning phase after the insertion, after which it will start studying the Sun to learn more about how the star in our solar system does more than merely support life on Earth.

After successfully navigating out of Earth’s sphere of influence, the spacecraft is now moving towards the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1). It has seven payloads that use electromagnetic, particle, and magnetic field detectors to study the photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layers of the Sun, called the corona.

Several Indian laboratories have developed the seven payloads of the Aditya L1. The Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bangalore is responsible for creating the VELC equipment. The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Pune is where the SUIT instrument is developed. At Ahmedabad’s Physical Research Laboratory, the ASPEX instrument is manufactured. The Space Physics Laboratory at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram is where the PAPA payload is manufactured. The U R Rao Satellite Centre in Bangalore is the site of manufacture for the SoLEXS and HEL1OS payloads. Finally, the Laboratory for Electro Optics Systems in Bangalore constructs the Magnetometer payload.

The High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer and Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer are intended to investigate solar flares throughout a broad energy range.