Aditya-L1: All you need to know about launch date, time, and objective of ISRO’s first solar mission

Days after the successful launch of its Chandrayaan-3 mission, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is all set for launch of its first solar mission Aditya-L1 that aims to study the Sun. ISRO will launch Aditya-L1 on Saturday, September 2, from the second launch pad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

According to ISRO, the countdown for the launch of Aditya-L1 onboard PSLV C57 has already begun. Notably, it is the space organisation's maiden expedition to study the Sun.

"This will provide a greater advantage of observing the solar activities and its effect on space weather in real time," ISRO states. 

PSLV-C57/Aditya-L1 Mission:
The 23-hour 40-minute countdown leading to the launch at 11:50 Hrs. IST on September 2, 2023, has commended today at 12:10 Hrs.

The launch can be watched LIVE
on ISRO Website https://t.co/osrHMk7MZL
Facebook https://t.co/zugXQAYy1y
YouTube…

— ISRO (@isro) September 1, 2023

As India is a few hours away from embarking on its new solar mission, check all the details about its launch date, time, location, and objectives.

Aditya L1 launch date and time

ISRO's Aditya L1 will be launched at 11:50 AM (IST) on Saturday, September 2, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. While the original launch was set for 2020, it was delayed several times and was finally pushed to 2023. 

All the ground systems are being tested and the spacecraft is said to be ready for launch. 

Aditya L1 destination

The spacecraft will be launched towards the Lagrange point (L1) through its onboard propulsion, following which it will exit the Earth's gravitational Sphere of Influence and will be injected into a large halo around L1. 

A gravitational stable point between the Sun and the Earth, L1 is a point that is about 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth and is the point where the gravitational pull of both the Sun and Earth are equal. Thus, this is where the spacecraft will stay in a fixed position and it is also the reason why L1 has been chosen to be the destination to observe the Sun. 

When will Aditya L1 reach the Sun?

According to ISRO, the projected time for the spacecraft to reach L1 is estimated to be nearly four months.

Aditya L1 mission: Objectives

The ISRO solar mission aims to fulfill the following objectives:

1. It will study the Sun's upper atmosphere including the chromosphere and corona.

2. It will study the heating of the sun's atmosphere along with the physics of partially ionised plasma and the coronal mass ejections and flaring. 

3. It will also observe the particle and plasma environment around the sun. 

4. It will also study the temperature, velocity, and density of the plasma in the corona and coronal loops. 

5. It will also investigate the origin, composition, and dynamics of the wind around the sun.

Aditya-L1: Trajectory

1. Aditya-L1 will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre with a PSLV-C57 rocket. 

2. After the launch, it will be placed in the lower orbit of the Earth. 

3. After manoeuvring the orbit, Aditya L1 will be raised and the spacecraft injected towards the L1 point using on-board propulsion.

4. Next, it will exit the Earth's gravitational field, and after stepping out of it, the 'cruise step' will start.

5. After completing this phase, the spacecraft will be surrounded by a large Halo and then will be installed in an orbit to reach L1. 

Where to watch Aditya L1 launch?

Viewers can watch the live launch at:

• ISRO Website- https://isro.gov.in
• Facebook- https://facebook.com/ISRO
• YouTube- https://youtube.com/watch?v=_IcgGYZTXQw

They can also watch the same on DD National TV Channel