India achieved two major milestones in space exploration in recent days. On January 6, its first solar observatory mission Aditya-L1 successfully entered orbit around the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 1, about 1.5 million km from Earth. This allows it to get an uninterrupted view of the Sun. Prime Minister Modi and President of India congratulated ISRO scientists on this achievement.
Aditya-L1 was launched on September 2, 2022. It carries seven instruments to study different aspects of solar activity like magnetic field, temperature, radiation, particles, etc. The main instrument is the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph which will create artificial eclipses to observe the Sun’s outer atmosphere called corona. Other instruments will analyze solar flares, the solar wind, and the Sun’s magnetic field.
Comparison with the James Webb Space Telescope which orbits the Sun-Earth Lagrange point 2 to observe distant galaxies and stars.
ISRO released first images from Aditya-L1’s Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope showing the Sun’s surface and atmosphere in stunning detail. Data will help understand the Sun and its impact on Earth.
Separately, on January 1, ISRO launched the XPoSat X-ray observatory in low Earth orbit. Its upper stage hosts experiments related to space tech and science – testing coatings, fuel cells, thrusters, dust measurements etc. Arranged by ISRO and IN-SPACe, India’s commercial space regulator.
In summary, India is making rapid strides in space exploration, with two successful missions in early 2023 – Aditya-L1 solar observatory reaching operational orbit and launch of XPoSat multi-purpose satellite. ISRO and IN-SPACe leading the missions which will provide valuable scientific data and advance India’s space tech capabilities.
