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India's 'Aditya-L1' mission sets course for solar study after Chandrayaan-3
The Aditya-L1 mission aims to examine solar characteristics: ISRO officials.
Delhi: Following the successful landing on the southern polar region of the Moon with Chandrayaan-3, India now has its sights set on studying the Sun.
To achieve this goal, India's first solar mission, 'Aditya-L1', was launched towards the Sun earlier this week.
According to Indian media reports, the Aditya-L1 mission has embarked on a 125-day journey to closely observe the Sun.
The mission was launched from Sriharikota in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, precisely at 11:50 AM local time.
The Aditya-L1 mission is designed to examine the characteristics of the Sun.
After launch, it will take approximately 125 days for the satellite to reach its designated location called the Lagrange Point (L1).
The Lagrange Point is a specific location in space where the gravitational forces of the Earth and the Sun balance out, allowing for an unobstructed view of the Sun without any interference.
Among the primary objectives of India's solar mission are understanding solar energy output, temperature variations, the Sun's corona (the outermost layer of the Sun located several thousand kilometers above its surface), the solar wind, and more.
If India successfully completes its mission, it will become the fourth country in the world to send a satellite for such solar research.
Prior to India, the United States, Russia, and European space agencies have conducted missions for similar solar studies.