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Ahmedabad: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Chairman S. Somanath has confirmed that the country’s pioneering solar mission, Aditya-L1, is poised to reach its destination at the Lagrangian point (L1), located 1.5 million km from Earth, on January 6. Launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota on September 2, Aditya-L1 is the first Indian space-based observatory designed to study the Sun from a unique halo orbit L1.
Mr. Somanath stated, “Aditya-L1 will enter the L1 point on January 6. Exact timing will be announced at an appropriate time.” Speaking on the sidelines of the Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan organized by Vijnana Bharati, an NGO dedicated to popularizing science, he explained the technical process: “When it reaches the L1 point, we have to fire the engine once again so that it does not go further. It will rotate around it and will be trapped at L1.
Once Aditya-L1 successfully reaches the Lagrangian point, it is poised to provide crucial data on various solar events for the next five years. “The data will be very useful to understand the dynamics of the Sun and how it affects our life,” highlighted the ISRO chief.
Addressing India’s technological aspirations, he emphasized the country’s plan to build its own space station, known as ‘Bharatiya space station,’ following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s directives during the ‘Amrit Kaal.’
In the space sector, we are seeing an emergence of new actors… We are going to support, encourage, and build the economy around the new generation,” added Mr. Somanath, emphasizing India’s strategic focus on sectors where it can excel.
