New Delhi: India’s inaugural solar mission, Aditya-L1, has successfully entered its final orbit. Launched on September 2, 2023, by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Aditya-L1’s mission is to observe the Sun over the next five years.
Placing the spacecraft in the Larange Point 1, a strategically stable location in the Earth-Sun system, was a critical challenge in the mission. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the achievement as “yet another landmark” and commended the dedication of Indian scientists through a post on X.
“India’s first solar observatory Aditya-L1 reaches it destination. It is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists in realising among the most complex and intricate space missions. I join the nation in applauding this extraordinary feat. We will continue to pursue new frontiers of science for the benefit of humanity,” Modi wrote.
Aditya-L1’s unique orbit around L1, distinct from traditional planetary orbits, poses a significant technical challenge. Despite gravitational pulls and pressures, the spacecraft will continue its mission, orbiting irregularly in a plane perpendicular to the line joining Earth and the Sun, an ISRO scientist explained.
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