Aditya L1 shares selfie from space, captures stunning image of Earth and Moon
NEW DELHI,SEPT 7: India’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft has captured stunning images of Earth and the Moon from space as it loops around the planet ahead of leaving for its destination, Lagrange Point 1. It also shared a selfie.
The spacecraft, which is on a mission to study the Sun, is currently en route to the Sun-Earth L1 point, a unique location in space where the gravitational forces of the Sun and Earth are in equilibrium.
Launched on September 2, from the Sriharikota launch pad in Andhra Pradesh, Aditya-L1 is India’s first solar observatory mission. The spacecraft has completed two Earth-bound maneuvers as it eyes leaving the planet forever in the coming days to go its new home, nearly 15,00,000 kilometers away.
The spacecraft carries seven payloads designed to observe various aspects of the Sun, including its photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. It will also measure the variation in magnetic field strength at the halo orbit around L1.
The Aditya-L1 mission aims to deepen our understanding of solar eruptive events and their impact on space weather. The spacecraft will be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange Point 1 (L1), approximately 1.5 million km from Earth in the direction of the sun.
This strategic position will allow the spacecraft to continuously observe the sun without interruption from eclipses or occultation, providing real-time data on solar activities.
The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), the primary payload of Aditya L1, is expected to send 1,440 images per day to the ground station for analysis upon reaching the intended orbit.
These images will provide valuable insights into the properties of the Sun and contribute to our understanding of solar astrophysics.
The recent images of Earth and the Moon captured by Aditya-L1 have sparked excitement among scientists and space enthusiasts alike. As the spacecraft continues its journey toward the L1 point, it is expected to provide more captivating images and valuable data, marking a new chapter in India’s space exploration history.
-PTI
