New Delhi (Agency): TThe Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has released the first images captured by its Aditya-L1 solar mission spacecraft, including a “selfie” and images of the Earth and Moon. Once it reaches its intended orbit, Aditya-L1 will send as many as 1,440 images daily to the ground station for analysis.
The spacecraft, aimed for the Sun-Earth L1 point, captured the images using its on-board camera on September 4, 2023. The photographs showcase the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) and Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUIT) instruments. VELC, the main payload, was constructed by the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), while the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) in Pune developed the SUIT payload.
VELC is a unique instrument, designed with 40 different optical elements like mirrors and gratings, to study the Sun’s atmosphere, also known as the Corona. According to IIA officials, this instrument can constantly image the Sun’s corona by blocking out its brighter disk. Once Aditya-L1 reaches its intended orbit, VELC will send a whopping 1,440 images daily for scientific study.
The spacecraft was successfully launched on September 2 using ISRO’s reliable PSLV-C57 rocket. Aditya-L1 carries seven different payloads to observe the Sun, ranging from studying the Sun’s light to measuring the plasma and magnetic fields around it.
The spacecraft will be placed in a halo orbit around Lagrangian Point 1 (L1), situated 1.5 million km from Earth in the direction of the Sun. In this orbit, Aditya-L1 will maintain a constant relative position to the Sun, allowing for continuous observation.
This successful image capture marks a significant milestone for ISRO and its scientific objectives. Aditya-L1 is geared to provide crucial data for understanding the Sun, from its atmospheric behavior to its impact on Earth. With the spacecraft set to send thousands of images daily once in its intended orbit, the scientific community is eager for the insights that this mission promises to deliver.