Aditya L1 Mission Part - II

 Aditya L1 Mission

 

In this part we will discuss about Lagrange points and the mission.

 

Lagrange Points or L-points-

·       These points are the positions in space where gravitational force of 2 large bodies is equal to the centripetal force of small object, which is necessary for its movement in respect of large bodies.

                                                    Or

·       These are the positions in space where gravitational force of two large bodies are minimum and object at this point can remain stable with minimum energy or minimum fuel consumption..

       Here object is Aditya L1 space craft which can remain at this point with minimum fuel consumption.

·       There are total 5 L – points (Lagrange points) for every combinations of two large bodies.

§  L_1, L₂, L₃ lie along the line connecting two large bodies. These are unstable.

§  L₄, L₅ points located at the apex of two equilateral triangles, which have large masses at their vertices. These are stable.

§  L1 point exist between earth and sun, located near earth at a distance of 15 Lakh Km from earth.

 

Significance of Lagrange points-

·       Space agencies used these points in space to park their spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption, needed to remain stable at the point.

·       At L1 point, Aditya L1 mission will get uninterrupted view of sun.

About the Mission-

·       It is a spacecraft which will not be land on Sun, while it will be placed at halo orbit around the L1 point of Sun-earth system, 1far away from sun.

·       It will take 4 months to reach at L1 point.

·       Life of mission is 5 years.

·       It is launched by PSLV – C57.

              PSLV (Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle) – It is India’s 3^rd generation launch vehicle after SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) and ASLV (Augmented Satellite Launch Vehicle). It is 4 stage launch vehicle and first of India with liquid stage at 2^nd and 4^th stages. Earlier SLV and ASLV were only solid stage launch vehicles.

       Chandrayan – 1 (2008) and MOM (Mars Orbiter Mission - 2013) missions were launched by PSLV.

·       It is ISRO’s 2^nd astronomy observatory class based mission after ASTROSAT (2015).

Objectives of the Mission-  

·       To study sun’s outer layers – Photosphere, Chromosphere and Corona.

 

·       To study visibility of sun’s corona during eclipse.

·       To study coronal mass ejection (CME).

      CME – is an ejection of plasma mass or charged particles and magnetic field from sun’s corona layer into the space.

 

·       To study incoming magnetic solar storms, solar flares, sunspots and coronal heating.

 

·       To study space environment affected by discharging of charged particles from sun, called solar wind and solar emissions.

·       Comprehensive study of solar phenomenon in space.

Significance of the Mission-

·       To understand about space weather affected by solar phenomenon.

·       To track incoming solar winds and storms towards earth and their impact on earth’s environment.

·       To understand the impact of solar flares on the earth’s magnetic field.

·       To understand how solar events affect entire solar system.

Solar Missions by other countries-

         Previously 22 missions have been launched aiming to study sun by US, ESA (European Space Agency), China and Japan etc.

       NASA launched its first mission to sun in 1960s and till now has sent 14 missions to sun.

     Thus this mission is very significant for India’s space technology development, it has entered India into elite group of few countries, who launched mission for study sun.

     Success of this mission will motivate for new and advanced space missions.

 

 

                                                 -     By Pooja Gupta