India’s Aditya-L1 manages to make a 16-second speed correction as it approaches the Sun, ISRO says.

The Aditya-L1 spacecraft successfully completed a 16-second Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM) on October 6, 2023. The maneuver, which was confirmed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), followed the Trans-Lagrangean Point 1 Insertion (TLII) maneuver. on September 19, which necessitated a change of pace.

TCM was crucial for Aditya-L1’s journey into halo orbit around L1. ISRO confirmed his good health and progress. Aditya-L1 completed four Earth maneuvers, including the critical TLII maneuver that freed it from Earth’s gravity. It also began its own science mission, collecting data with the STEPS instrument, providing insight into the behavior of near-Earth particles.

Aditya-L1 was launched shortly after the successful moon landing of Chandrayaan-3. It houses seven instruments for deep solar studies, focusing on real-time measurements of solar light and plasma and magnetic fields. Its primary target is a halo orbit at L1, 1.5 million kilometers from Earth in the direction of the Sun, with a four-month journey. The location enables uninterrupted solar observations, real-time monitoring of solar activity and their impact on space weather, and increases understanding of solar flares and drivers of space weather.

The completed TCM marks another major achievement for Aditya-L1, helping India unravel the mysteries surrounding the Sun’s outer regions and its impact on space weather, space exploration and Earth’s technological systems. A great outcome is brought closer to opening the circle. To stay updated on the Aditya-L1 mission, please subscribe to ISRO’s official channels and stay abreast of ongoing discoveries in the scientific community worldwide.

First Published: 09 Oct 2023, 12:38 IST