- India will launch the Aditya- L1 mission by the end of the year 2021. It is to be known that this mission was to be launched in 2020 but due to Covid-19 pandemic, it has been delayed.
- This mission will closely observe the sun and study its atmosphere and magnetic field.
- AdityaL1 will study the Sun’s corona, Sun’s photosphere, chromosphere, solar emissions, solar wind, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and will carry out round-the-clock imaging of the Sun.
- This satellite will also study the effects of solar flares on the Earth’s weather and the obstacles in electronic communication.
Aditya- L1 Mission:
- ISRO has classified the Aditya- L1 as a 400 kg-class satellite, which will be launched from the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL).
- The Aditya- L1 will be positioned near the L-1 (Lagrange Point 1) located between the Sun and the Earth.
- Aditya-1 was designed to test only the solar halo.
- At Lagrange points, the gravitational pull of two large masses precisely equals the centripetal force, required for a small object to move with them. These points in space can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position.
- Lagrange Points are positions in space, where the gravitational forces of a two system like the Sun and the Earth, produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion. These can be used by spacecraft to reduce fuel consumption needed to remain in position.
- Lagrange points are represented by L-1, L-2, L-3, L-4 and L-ISRO wants to install Aditya-1 around L-1 Lagrange Point,800 km above the ground.
Importance of study of Sun
- The effects on solar systems can change the satellite’s orbits or disrupt their life or disrupt electronic communications on Earth or cause other disturbances. Therefore, to understand the weather of space, it is important to have knowledge of solar phenomena.
- Every planet, including planet Earth and the exoplanets beyond the Solar System, evolves — and this evolution is governed by its parent star. The solar weather and environment, which is determined by the processes taking place inside and around the sun, affects the weather of the entire system.
- Continuous solar observation is required to know about the storms coming on Earth and to track them and predict their effect, so studying the sun becomes important.
Source- Indian Express