India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV MkIII-M1) has successfully launched the Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft into earth’s orbit. This remarkable achievement places India firmly in the global space exploration sector. The Chandrayaan-2 is now orbiting Earth, with a perigee (closest point to Earth) of 169.7 km and an apogee (farthest point from Earth) of 45,475 km.
Mission Chandrayaan-2: A Closer Look
Chandrayaan-2 is India’s second mission to the moon following Chandrayaan-1. It is composed of a wholly indigenous Orbiter, Lander called Vikram, and Rover named Pragyan. The Rover Pragyan is strategically housed inside the Vikram lander.
This ambitious mission has a core objective – to broaden our comprehension of the Moon’s origin and evolution. The approach for understanding includes a detailed study of its topography, mineralogy, surface chemical composition, thermo-physical characteristics, and atmosphere.
India’s Moon Mission: Key Objectives
The main aim of Chandrayaan-2 is to expand our knowledge about our only natural satellite, the Moon. The mission seeks detailed information on everything from topography and mineralogy to surface chemical composition, thermo-physical characteristics, and atmosphere. The Rover Pragyan will play a crucial role in gathering this data.
India’s Next Space Exploration: The Solar Mission Aditya-L1
Following the success of Chandrayaan-2, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has planned another ambitious venture, the launch of its solar mission, Aditya-L1. Scheduled for the first half of 2020, Aditya-L1 aims to study the Sun’s corona.
Aditya-L1 is a successor mission to Aditya 1, with its focus expanded from merely observing the solar corona. The satellite will be launched between 2019 and 2020 by PSLV-XL from Sriharikota.
What We Can Expect From Aditya-L1
| Observation Focus | Description |
|---|---|
| Sun’s Photosphere (soft and hard X-ray) | Studying the Sun’s photosphere (the visible surface) in soft and hard X-rays can provide insights into solar flares and other energetic phenomena. |
| Sun’s Chromosphere (Ultra Violet) | The chromosphere will be observed in the Ultra Violet spectrum. This layer, located above the photosphere, holds important information about the Sun’s magnetic field and energy output. |
| Sun’s Corona (Visible and Near Infrared Rays) | The corona, the Sun’s outermost atmosphere, will be observed in Visible and Near Infrared Rays. Study of the corona can provide crucial data about solar wind and space weather phenomena. |
Aditya-L1: A Giant Step for India’s Space Program
Launching Aditya-L1 will mark a significant step forward for ISRO and for India’s contribution to global space science. This mission aims to gather an unprecedented amount of data about the Sun’s magnetic field, its energetic events, solar wind, and overall space weather. Such detailed observation and study of our star can pave the way for better understanding of our solar system and beyond.