Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1, has begun collecting data using the Supra Thermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer (STEPS) sub-system, one of the seven instruments on board.
What is STEPS?
STEPS stands for Supra Thermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer. It is a sub-system onboard India’s Aditya-L1 spacecraft and part of the Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload. It is designed to measure fast-moving charged particles generated by processes within the Sun. STEPS helps scientists analyze the behaviour of particles surrounding Earth and provides valuable data for solar science and space weather research.
About Aditya-L1:
It was launched on September 2, and is currently in Earth’s orbit, but it is scheduled to leave this orbit and move towards the Earth-Sun system’s Lagrange 1 (L1) point.
