India Sun Mission Aditya L1 Spacecraft Nearing Final Phase: ISRO Chief

India inaugural solar exploration mission, the Aditya L1 spacecraft, is approaching its concluding phase. ISRO Chairman S. Somanath disclosed that the maneuvers to position the spacecraft at the L1 point are anticipated to conclude by January 7, 2024.

Expressing confidence in the mission progress, Somanath stated, "Aditya is on the way and has almost reached its final phase." He shared this information during an event at VSSC, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the First Sounding Rocket Launch, organized by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The ISRO chief highlighted that meticulous preparations are currently in progress for the spacecraft entry into the L1 point. He elaborated, "The last preparations for entering into the L1 point are currently underway incrementally."

Anticipating the final maneuvers, Somanath added, "Possibly by January 7th, the last maneuvers will be conducted for entering into the L1 point."

The Aditya L1 mission had a successful launch on September 2 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota. Having traversed approximately 1.5 million km from Earth over a span of 125 days, the spacecraft is poised to be positioned in a Halo orbit around the Lagrangian point L1, which is considered the closest point to the Sun.

The primary objectives of the mission include capturing and transmitting images of the Sun for scientific experiments, among other tasks. The Aditya L1 spacecraft stands as a testament to India burgeoning capabilities in space exploration.