New Delhi – In a remarkable achievement following the recent success of landing a spacecraft on the moon’s southern side, India has now embarked on its first-ever mission to study the sun. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) launched the ‘Aditya L1’ spacecraft today from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, located on the eastern coast of India.

The historic launch took place at 11.50am local time, as the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57) rocket propelled the Aditya L1 spacecraft into space. ISRO proudly announced, “The launch of Aditya-L1 by PSLV-C57 is accomplished successfully, and the vehicle has placed the satellite precisely into its intended orbit.”

Aditya L1, India’s first solar observatory, embarks on a significant journey, with a destination set at the sun-Earth L1 point. This ambitious mission will see the spacecraft travel a staggering 1.5 million kilometers over the course of approximately four months, positioning itself in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point (L1) of the sun-Earth system. This orbit will be stabilized by the delicate balance of gravitational forces.

The Aditya-L1 mission represents a pioneering step for India, as it marks the country’s first space-based observatory-class mission dedicated to studying the sun’s atmosphere. ISRO’s scientists and engineers are poised to unlock a wealth of knowledge about the sun’s behavior and its impact on our planet, which could have far-reaching implications for solar science and space exploration.

As Aditya L1 embarks on its mission to unravel the mysteries of our nearest star, it signifies India’s continued commitment to advancing its capabilities in space exploration and scientific research. This achievement adds yet another remarkable chapter to India’s growing legacy in space exploration.