The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is finally executing the final launch of one of the key maneuvers for Aditya L-1 on January 6 which will reach Lagrange Point 1, nearly 15 lakh kilometers away from Earth to collect data from the Sun. The ISRO Chairman S Somnath has said the L1 insertion will be completed on Saturday, January 6 but what happens if the mission fails?
ISRO successfully launched the PSLV-C58 mission carrying the XpoSat at the start of 2024, now, the whole focus is on Adiya L-1. S Somnath said, “That will be achieved around 4 pm on January 6. If we do not do the final burn, the spacecraft will jump and go on its way farther distances, towards the Sun because it has a bigger body.”
The primary goal of this intricate orbital dance is to position the spacecraft at its ultimate destination, where it can observe the Sun without any hindrance from eclipses. Achieving this positioning is integral to the success of the Aditya-L1 mission, which is designed to meticulously study solar activities. This includes a focus on phenomena such as coronal mass ejections and solar flares—explosions of magnetic energy with the potential to induce temporary blackouts in satellite signals and degrade high-frequency radio waves.
Elaborating on the operational intricacies, the official mentioned that a similar controlled engine burn had been executed earlier for Aditya L1 to enter the halo orbit successfully. All essential payloads onboard the spacecraft have undergone rigorous testing and are reported to be functioning efficiently, providing a sense of assurance regarding the mission’s overall preparedness.