ISRO's Aditya L1 Successfully Performs Fourth Earth-Bound Manoeuvre - Republic World

That's indeed exciting news! ISRO's Aditya L1 mission represents a significant milestone for India's space program and solar research. Here's a summary of the key points from the announcement:

1. Successful Fourth Earth-Bound Manoeuvre : On September 16, 2023, ISRO's Aditya L1 spacecraft completed its fourth earth-bound manoeuvre as part of its journey to the L1 Lagrange point.

2. Destination: L1 Lagrange Point : Aditya L1 is on a 16-day journey around Earth, building up the necessary velocity to reach the L1 Lagrange point. This point is strategically located in space, where the gravitational forces of the Sun and Earth are balanced, providing an ideal vantage point for observing the Sun continuously without interference.

3. Scientific Objectives : Once it reaches the L1 point, Aditya L1 will carry out scientific observations of the Sun's corona, chromosphere, photosphere, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and other solar activities. These observations will contribute to a deeper understanding of the Sun and its influence on Earth's space weather.

4. Fourth Manoeuvre Details : The fourth earth-bound manoeuvre involved firing the spacecraft's engines for 15 minutes, resulting in a velocity increase of 41 m/s. This placed the spacecraft in an elliptical orbit with an apogee of 20,000 km and a perigee of 1,600 km.

5. Upcoming Milestones : Aditya L1 is expected to reach the L1 Lagrange point in October 2023, after which it will commence its scientific operations. These operations are projected to continue for a period of five years.

6. Significance : This mission is a significant achievement for India's space program, as it marks the country's first dedicated mission for solar research. With Aditya L1's success, India will join the select group of nations with their own solar observatories.

Aditya L1's scientific findings are expected to contribute not only to the understanding of the Sun but also to the prediction and management of space weather, which can have important implications for Earth and its technological infrastructure.