After Moon, ISRO now aims for the Sun with a new mission launch next week | Read Details

With the successful completion of the Chandrayaan-3 mission on the moon, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is now turning its attention towards the Sun. The Aditya-L1, India's first space observatory designed for solar research, is all set for launch from the country's main spaceport in Sriharikota.

The Aditya-L1 spacecraft's primary objective is to provide remote observations of the solar corona and study the solar atmosphere. It will conduct extensive research on solar winds, which have the potential to disrupt Earth's magnetic field and trigger phenomena like the Northern and Southern Lights.

The mission's data is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the sun's impact on Earth's climate patterns in the long term.

The Aditya-L1 spacecraft will be transported to its designated position using India's heavy-duty launch vehicle, the PSLV. After launch, it will travel 1.5 million kilometers to reach Lagrange point 1 (L1), a stable area in space where gravitational forces are balanced. This location minimizes fuel consumption for the spacecraft.

The Aditya-L1 mission, budgeted at approximately ₹378 crore, is built at a lower cost compared to the Chandrayaan-3 mission. With this solar observatory, India aims to strengthen its space engineering reputation while advancing its scientific understanding of solar phenomena and their potential impacts on Earth.