News Excerpt:

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has placed the Aditya-L1 spacecraft in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point (L1).

• Aditya-L1, the first Indian space-based observatory to study the Sun, was launched on September 2, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
• After a 1.5 million km journey, the spacecraft was placed in a halo orbit around L1.
• The solar probe was carried into space by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

Background:

• Indian scientists have so far observed the Sun through telescopes on the ground and relied on data from other solar missions.
• Aditya-L1 presents a unique opportunity to address the existing gaps and complement newer data to address the unsolved problems in solar physics.

Why there is a Need for studying the Sun from space?

• Studying the Sun helps us understand more about other stars.
• The sun has various explosive phenomena. These can damage our satellites and communication systems. 
• Studying the Sun and its effects on the space weather may help provide early warnings for such events.
• Earth’s atmosphere and the magnetic field act as protective shields blocking harmful radiations, such as UV light. 
• This means studying the Sun from the Earth cannot provide a complete picture.

Objectives of Aditya L-1 mission:

• The mission’s main objective is to expand our knowledge of the Sun and how its radiation, heat, flow of particles, and magnetic fields affect us. 
• Below is the list of objectives that the mission will embark upon:
• Study of Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics.
• Study of chromospheric and coronal heating, physics of the partially ionised plasma, initiation of the coronal mass ejections, and flares
• Observe the in-situ particle and plasma environment providing data for the study of particle dynamics from the Sun.
• Physics of solar corona and its heating mechanism.
• Diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma: Temperature, velocity and density.
• Development, dynamics and origin of CMEs.
• Identify the sequence of processes that occur at multiple layers (chromosphere, base and extended corona) which eventually leads to solar eruptive events.
• Magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in the solar corona.
• Drivers for space weather (origin, composition and dynamics of solar wind.

Space agencies of different countries exploring the Sun:

Conclusion

While landing on the Sun, it will remain a formidable challenge due to its extreme temperatures. The missions like Aditya-L1 are poised to unlock valuable insights into our star, the Sun, from their vantage point in space.