ISRO's Aditya-L1 observatory completes 1st halo orbit around L1 point, validates crucial programme

India’s first solar mission, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, has successfully completed its first halo orbit around the Sun-Earth L1 point, according to an announcement from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Tuesday. This milestone marks a significant achievement for the mission, which aims to study solar activity and its effects on space weather.

Launched on September 2, 2023, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft was inserted into its targeted halo orbit on January 6, 2024. The mission, positioned at the Lagrange point L1, a stable point in space approximately 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, provides a continuous view of the Sun without any occultation or eclipses.

The spacecraft’s journey around the L1 point takes about 178 days to complete one revolution. During this orbit, the Aditya-L1 spacecraft is subjected to various perturbing forces, which can cause deviations from its targeted path. To counter these forces and maintain its designated orbit, the spacecraft undergoes periodic station-keeping manoeuvres.

ISRO reported that the Aditya-L1 mission underwent two such manoeuvres on February 22 and June 7, respectively, to stay on course. The latest manoeuvre, conducted on Tuesday, ensured the spacecraft’s seamless transition into the second halo orbit around the L1 point.

The agency elaborated on the complex dynamics involved in navigating the Aditya-L1 spacecraft around the Sun-Earth L1 Lagrangian point. Accurate modelling and understanding of the various perturbing forces acting on the spacecraft were crucial for determining its trajectory and planning precise orbital manoeuvres.

With the successful execution of the latest station-keeping manoeuvre, ISRO’s in-house developed state-of-the-art flight dynamics software, created at the U R Rao Satellite Centre (URSC) specifically for the Aditya-L1 mission, has been fully validated. This software plays a critical role in ensuring the accuracy of the spacecraft’s trajectory and its ability to remain in the intended orbit.

The Aditya-L1 mission is designed to provide key insights into solar phenomena and their impact on the Earth’s climate and space weather. Positioned at the L1 point, the spacecraft has a unique vantage point to observe the Sun continuously, enabling it to capture data on solar activities such as coronal mass ejections, solar flares, and solar wind.

Understanding these solar activities is crucial for predicting space weather, which can affect satellite operations, communications, and power grids on Earth. The data collected by Aditya-L1 will enhance our knowledge of solar dynamics and contribute to the development of better space weather forecasting models.

ISRO’s successful management of the Aditya-L1 mission reflects the agency’s growing expertise in space exploration and its commitment to advancing scientific research. The mission represents a significant step forward in India’s space capabilities, highlighting the country’s ability to undertake complex space missions and contribute valuable scientific knowledge to the global community.