Context:

The first science result from the Aditya-L1 mission is out.

More on News:

Aditya-L1 mission has achieved its first scientific milestone by using its primary payload, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), to precisely estimate the onset time of a coronal mass ejection from the Sun on July 16.

Key Observations of the mission:

• Close-range CME Observation: VELC’s unique spectroscopic data allows scientists to study CMEs near the Sun’s surface, which is usually challenging with visible-light observations alone.
• Thermodynamic Insights: VELC helps scientists understand the thermodynamic properties of CMEs close to their source regions on the Sun, offering valuable insights into solar eruptions.

• Solar Cycle Monitoring: The Sun is currently approaching the peak of its solar cycle (Cycle No. 25), suggesting an increase in CME activity.
  • VELC’s continuous monitoring can yield extensive scientific data about these eruptions.

About Aditya L1 Mission

• Launch Date: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the Aditya-L1 mission on September 2, 2023, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
• Mission Goal: Aditya-L1 is India’s first dedicated scientific mission to study the Sun.
• Payload: The mission’s primary payload, the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), was developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAp), Bengaluru.
• Current Orbit: Aditya-L1 was placed in a halo orbit around the Earth-Sun Lagrange point (L1) on January 6, 2024.
• Mission Lifespan: Aditya-L1 is designed to operate for five years, continuously observing and gathering data on solar phenomena.

News Source: The Hindu

DOWNLOAD PDF