GS paper 3
Syllabus: Science and Technology: Space
Context: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the Aditya-L1 solar mission on September 2, 2023.
More about the news:
- The spacecraft will be launched from the Sriharikota spaceport on the PSLV rocket.
- Aim: Aditya-L1 aims to study the Sun from a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth systems, about 1.5 million km away from Earth.
We already discussed Aditya-L1 a few days back in our FFP. Here we will analyse its significance.
| Aspect | Explanation |
| Mission Objective | To study the Sun, its upper atmospheric dynamics (chromosphere and corona), and understand the physics of the solar corona and its heating mechanism for the five-year time period.
|
| Launch Vehicle | Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) |
| Orbit | L1 orbit (First Lagrange point of the Sun-Earth system) |
| Primary Payload | Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) |
| Other Payloads | Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS), High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS), Aditya Solar wind Particle EXperiment (ASPEX), Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) |
| Significance of VELC | VELC is a solar coronagraph capable of simultaneous imaging, spectroscopy, and spectro-polarimetry. It can image the solar corona down to 1.05 times the solar radius. |
| Purpose of Studying the Sun | To gain a deeper understanding of the Sun’s radiation, heat, flow of particles, and magnetic fields; provide clues about the high temperature of the solar corona; understand space weather dynamics; and offer early warnings for solar events. |
| Importance of L1 Point | L1 point provides an unobstructed view of the Sun, even during phenomena like an eclipse; allows payloads to directly observe the Sun; makes the mission fuel-efficient. |
| Significance of Lagrange Points | Lagrange points are equilibrium positions in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies, like the Earth and the Sun, produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion. |
| Benefits of Studying the Sun from Space | Provides more detailed information due to the absence of Earth’s atmosphere; helps understand solar phenomena; enables monitoring of solar events and their potential impacts on Earth. |
Other Solar Missions by Different Countries:
| United States | · Parker Solar Probe (August 2018): Touched the Sun’s upper atmosphere, sampled particles and magnetic fields in December 2021
· Solar Orbiter (February 2020): Explores the Sun’s changing space environment |
| Japan | · Hinotori (ASTRO-A, 1981): Studied solar flares using hard X-rays
· Yohkoh (SOLAR-A, 1991): Studied solar activity · Hinode (SOLAR-B, 2006): Studied the Sun’s impact on Earth. |
| Europe | · Ulysses (October 1990): Studied space environment above and below the Sun’s poles
· Proba-2 (October 2001): Part of solar exploratory missions. · Upcoming: Proba-3 (2024), Smile (2025) |
| China | Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory (ASO-S, October 2022): Launched to observe the Sun. |
The Aditya-L1 mission by ISRO holds significant importance for India due to its focus on studying the Sun and the solar corona. This mission aims to achieve the following:
- Scientific Understanding: The mission’s primary objective is to deepen our understanding of the Sun, its radiation, magnetic fields, and the flow of particles.
- Space Weather Forecasting: By studying the Sun’s behaviour, the mission can contribute to predicting space weather events, such as solar flares, that can disrupt satellite communications and other technologies on Earth.
- Technological Advancement: Developing a space-based observatory to study the Sun demonstrates India’s technological prowess in space exploration and adds to its reputation in the global space community.
- International Collaboration: Participating in solar research aligns with international efforts to understand the Sun and its effects.
- Education and Inspiration: The mission inspires future scientists, engineers, and researchers by showcasing India’s achievements in space science and encouraging the pursuit of space-related careers.
- Data for Innovation: The collected data can lead to innovations in technology, materials science, and various other fields that can benefit India’s technological landscape.
Insta Links:
Mains Links:
Discuss India’s achievements in the field of Space Science and Technology. How the application of this technology has helped India in its socio-economic development? (UPSC 2016)
Prelims Links: (UPSC 2013)
Consider the following phenomena:
- Size of the sun at dusk
- Colour of the sun at dawn
- Moon being visible at dawn
- Twinkle of stars in the sky
- Polestar being visible in the sky
Which of the above are optical illusions?
(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 3, 4 and 5 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 5 only
