AFP/R SATISH BABU
Residents watch the launch of the PSLV XL rocket carrying the Aditya-L1 spacecraft, September 2 2023 at the Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota. The launch of the mission aircraft will be aimed at the center of the solar system carrying a mission to observe the outer layers of the sun.
NEW DELHI, SUNDAY — The Indian spacecraft, Aditya-L1, has passed an important point in its journey to observe the outer layers of the Sun. The spacecraft is no longer exposed to influences from Earth.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in a statement, Saturday (30/9/2023) evening stated, “The spacecraft has escaped Earth’s influence.”
The Aditya-L1 aircraft began its journey to the center of the solar system on September 2 2023 while carrying equipment to observe the outer layers of the Sun. The mission aircraft took about four months to reach its observation point.
Also Read: After Embracing the Moon, India is Now Reaching for the Sun
According to ISRO, Aditya, whose name is taken from the Hindu God of the Sun, has traveled 920,000 kilometers. That’s only half of the total travel distance. At that moment, the gravitational force of the two astronomical bodies disappeared. That keeps the mission craft in a stable halo orbit around a nearby star.
”This is the second time ISRO has sent a spacecraft. The first is the Mars Orbiter Mission,” the agency added.
Launch of the Aditya-L1 spacecraft at the Space Center in Sriharikota, India, September 2, 2023.
In August 2023, India became the first country to land a spacecraft near the Moon’s largely unexplored south pole. This achievement makes India the fourth country to land on the Moon.
The Pragyan rover robot has made observations around its landing site. However, currently the robot is in the off position.
India hopes to extend the mission by reactivating the solar-powered rover when sunlight returns to the lunar surface. However, so far the control center has only been greeted by radio silence. “It’s okay if the rover doesn’t live because it has done what was expected,” said ISRO Chief S Somanath.
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In 2014, India became the first Asian country to put a probe into orbit around Mars. Next, India is scheduled to launch a three-day manned mission into Earth orbit next year.
Before India, the United States and the European Space Agency had sent many probes to the center of the solar system, starting with NASA’s Pioneer program in the 1960s. Japan and China have both launched their own solar observatory missions into Earth orbit.
If successful, ISRO’s latest mission through the launch of Aditya-L1 will be the first mission aircraft by an Asian country to be placed in orbit around the Sun. (AFP)
2023-10-01 14:26:04
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