ISRO’s Aditya L1 Solar Probe: Navigating the Cosmos Beyond Chandrayaan 3
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is set to achieve another milestone as it gears up for a crucial operation to activate Aditya L1’s engine on Saturday. Unlike the Chandrayaan 3 mission, where the Vikram lander touched down on the lunar south pole, Aditya L1 will embark on a unique mission to orbit the Sun at the first Lagrange Point in the Earth-Sun system, located 15 lakh km away from Earth.
Aditya L1’s Unprecedented Journey:
Aditya L1’s mission is groundbreaking, as it will not land on the Sun but will revolve at a strategic point in space. The distance of 15 lakh km might sound vast, but it represents only 1 percent of the total 15 crore km separation between Earth and the Sun.
Comparisons with NASA’s Parker Solar Probe:
In December 2021, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history by flying through the Sun’s upper atmosphere, the corona, collecting valuable samples of particles and magnetic fields. The probe ventured to an approximate distance of 78 lakh km from the Sun’s surface. Unlike Aditya L1, the Parker Solar Probe has been engaged in a series of loops within a highly elliptical orbit around the Sun, steadily approaching closer with each orbit.
Challenges of a Direct Sun Flyby:
The task of a direct flyby of the Sun is immensely challenging due to the substantial energy required. According to NASA, it takes 55 times more energy to reach the Sun compared to Mars.
Canceling the sideways motion of our planet, which moves predominantly sideways compared to the Sun, is crucial. The Parker Solar Probe achieves this by utilizing Venus’s gravity assists and shedding sideways speed. These gravity assists draw the probe’s orbit closer to the Sun, achieving a record approach of just 61.6 lakh km from the Sun’s visible surface on the final orbits, as explained in a NASA report.
Record-Breaking Speed and Comparison:
As the Parker Solar Probe sheds sideways speed to approach the Sun, it gains overall speed propelled by the Sun’s intense gravity. Expected to break the record as the fastest human-made object, reaching a speed of 6,92,023 km on its final orbits in 2025, the probe’s velocity is so extraordinary that it can travel from New Delhi to Lahore in just two seconds!
Former ISRO scientist and founder of NIMBUS Education, Manish Purohit, shared insights into the critical maneuver planned for India’s solar mission, Aditya L1. During this operation, the spacecraft will execute a 180-degree flip, bringing the thrusters to the front for a brief duration to slow down and achieve a different orbit. Purohit emphasized the precision required, as the maneuver will last only a few seconds. Aditya L1’s liquid apogee motors, currently in a hibernated state, will be activated with precision commands from ISRO, avoiding the risks of overfiring, underfiring, or mistiming.
The solar probe faces challenges navigating the complex 3D orbit following the maneuver into the halo orbit, revolving around the dynamically moving L1 point. Control moment gyros, similar to those used by the International Space Station, aid in balancing the spin, with continuous monitoring of position parameters and orbital details by the spacecraft’s software and ground stations.
The article also addresses the potential consequences of a failed maneuver, such as missing the gravity capture by the L1 point, resulting in an undesired higher orbit and increased fuel consumption, crucial for the mission’s longevity. The precision and success of this maneuver play a pivotal role in Aditya L1’s mission as it aims to reach its destination 1.5 million km from Earth.
Conclusion
ISRO’s Aditya L1 solar probe is set to make history by navigating the cosmos in a way that sets it apart from previous missions, emphasizing the incredible challenges and achievements in exploring the Sun. As the world eagerly awaits Saturday’s engine activation, this mission promises to contribute valuable insights into the mysteries of our solar system.
