Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) and Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Pune have developed payloads for the Aditya-L1 mission, which aims to study the Sun’s atmosphere, provide real-time observations of solar activities, and understand space weather.
The Bengaluru-based IIA is responsible for developing the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) payload, which will collect data to solve the mystery of why the temperature of the corona can reach a million degrees while the Sun’s surface stays just over 6000 degrees Centigrade.
On the other hand, the Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) payload has been developed by the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Pune. This payload is expected to provide crucial information to understand coronal heating, coronal mass ejection (CME), and flare activities, as well as dynamics of space weather and particle propagation.
The Aditya-L1 satellite, developed by U R Rao Satellite Centre, arrived at ISRO’s spaceport of Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh earlier this month. It is planned to be placed in a halo orbit around the L1 point of the Sun-Earth system. Placing the satellite in this orbit will provide an uninterrupted view of the Sun without any planets obstructing the view or causing eclipses.
The Aditya-L1 mission has a total of seven payloads, with four directly viewing the Sun and the remaining three carrying out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the L1 point. These payloads will provide important scientific studies of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium.
The mission’s objectives include studying the dynamics of the solar upper atmosphere, the physics of partially ionized plasma, the initiation of coronal mass ejections and flares, and the propagation of particles and fields. Additionally, the mission aims to study the temperature, velocity, and density of the coronal and coronal loops plasma, as well as the development and dynamics of CMEs. It also intends to study the magnetic field topology and composition of solar wind.
The instruments of Aditya-L1 are designed to observe the solar atmosphere, particularly the chromosphere and corona. The in-situ instruments will observe the local environment at the L1 point, providing valuable data for the study of particle dynamics from the Sun.
The Aditya-L1 mission represents a significant step in understanding the Sun’s behavior and its impact on space weather. With its advanced payloads and unique orbit around the L1 point, the mission is expected to provide crucial insights into the Sun’s atmosphere and its heating mechanism, as well as drive advances in space weather forecasting.