India’s first solar observation mission, Aditya-L1, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by providing its first significant scientific result. Using the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), scientists successfully predicted the onset of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) from the Sun on July 16, marking a pivotal achievement in solar research.
Aditya-L1, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on September 2, 2023, is the country’s maiden scientific mission dedicated to studying the Sun. After a four-month journey, the spacecraft reached its designated orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1) in January 2024. Located 1.5 million kilometers (932,000 miles) from Earth, L1 provides an uninterrupted view of the Sun, even during eclipses and occultations.
The mission carries seven cutting-edge scientific instruments, with the VELC as its centerpiece. Developed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIAp) in Bengaluru, the VELC is designed to mimic the effect of a solar eclipse, artificially blocking the Sun’s photosphere to provide a continuous view of the outer corona, where CMEs originate.
Breakthrough in CME Prediction
The successful estimation of the CME’s onset time highlights the unique capabilities of the VELC. Unlike ground-based coronagraphs, which can only observe the Sun’s innermost corona due to atmospheric limitations, the space-based VELC provides an unobstructed and continuous view of the Sun’s outermost layer. This advantage enables scientists to monitor the genesis and trajectory of CMEs in real-time.
CMEs are massive bubbles of plasma, laden with magnetic fields, ejected from the Sun’s corona. These events can have significant impacts on Earth, ranging from stunning auroras to potentially catastrophic disruptions of satellite communications, power grids, and navigation systems. Early detection and precise tracking of CMEs are critical for mitigating their effects on Earth’s technological infrastructure.
Enhancing Global Solar Research
The findings from Aditya-L1, set to be published in the prestigious Astrophysical Journal Letters as reported by The Hindu, have already drawn comparisons with international missions. According to Professor R. Ramesh, a leading scientist on the project, the VELC’s smaller coronagraph design offers a unique advantage over the larger instruments aboard NASA-ESA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).
He says that its design mimics the Moon to block only the Sun’s photosphere, which allows continuous, 24/7 observation of the corona. In contrast, the larger coronagraph on NASA-ESA’s mission also obscures parts of the corona, making it harder to detect the early stages of a coronal mass ejection (CME) if it originates in the hidden region. The VELC can detect CMEs from their earliest stages, providing critical forewarning of potentially hazardous solar storms.
This milestone underscores Aditya-L1’s potential to enhance the global understanding of solar activity and its effects on Earth’s space weather. By combining data from Aditya-L1 with observations from India’s three ground-based solar observatories in Kodaikanal, Gauribidanur, and Udaipur, researchers aim to develop a comprehensive model of the Sun’s influence on near-space environments.
Addressing a Growing Space Weather Challenge
The implications of this research are far-reaching. As our reliance on satellite-based technologies grows, understanding and predicting solar phenomena like CMEs becomes increasingly vital. Extreme events, such as the Carrington Event of 1859 or the narrowly missed solar storm of 2012, highlight the destructive potential of these solar outbursts. Accurate prediction capabilities can help safeguard global infrastructure by allowing preemptive measures, such as temporarily powering down vulnerable systems.
A Testament to Indigenous Innovation
Aditya-L1’s achievements showcase India’s growing prowess in space science and technology. Named after the Hindu Sun god Surya, the mission symbolizes the nation’s determination to explore and unravel the mysteries of the Sun. With its ability to continuously monitor solar activity, Aditya-L1 promises to make significant contributions to international solar research and to advance early warning systems for solar storms.
India also recently joined the exclusive club of nations (the United States, Russia, and China) that have achieved controlled lunar landings in September last year with the successful landing of the Chandrayaan-3 mission near the lunar south pole.
Chandrayaan-3’s success made India the first country in history to land on the Moon’s challenging south pole region. This area has long intrigued scientists due to its potential water ice deposits, which are crucial for sustaining future lunar exploration and colonization.
This achievement vindicates India’s perseverance following the partial failure of Chandrayaan-2 in 2019. Together, Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya-L1 highlight ISRO’s focus on addressing critical scientific questions about the Moon and the Sun while strengthening India’s role in global space exploration efforts.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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