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Aditya-L1 Mission: First set of complete Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope data released

Aditya-L1, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation on September 2, 2023, carries seven instruments to study the Sun across a wide spectral window ranging from hard X-rays to infrared.

3 min readUpdated: Oct 29, 2025 04:39 PM IST

Following a rigorous verification and calibration phase that was completed by June 2024, the data are now fully processed and ready for scientific use. (file)

The Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), one of the primary payloads on board Aditya-L1, India’s first dedicated space-based solar mission, has now released its first complete set of calibrated science-ready data for the global research community, according to an announcement made on Wednesday.

SUIT was developed by a consortium led by the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune, with support from ISRO.

The complete SUIT data set is now available through the ISRO Science Data Archive (https://pradan.issdc.gov.in/al1/).

Aditya-L1, launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on September 2, 2023, carries seven instruments to study the Sun across a wide spectral window ranging from hard X-rays to infrared, along with particle detectors spanning an unprecedented energy range. For the first time, SUIT has provided observations of the Sun in the near and mid-ultraviolet wavelength bands (2000–4000 Å), opening a new frontier in solar physics.

Professor A N Ramaprakash, Dean, Core Academic Programmes at Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), told The Indian Express that for the first time, the complete SUIT dataset will now be publicly available.

“The importance of this is that any astronomer across the world can carry out his/her studies by referring to this data, and it opens the path for discoveries related to solar activity,” Prof Ramaprakash said. “We are also conducting workshops so that training can be imparted, particularly to youngsters on how to navigate this data and help them understand and analyse the observations,” he added.

Earlier too, the SUIT team, in collaboration with the Aditya Science Support Cell, has carried out these workshops.

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It may be recalled that SUIT was switched on November 20, 2023, and obtained its first light images on December 6, 2023, while the satellite was still cruising towards the Sun-Earth Lagrangian point L1. Aditya-L1 was inserted into an orbit around L1 on January 6, 2024.

Following a rigorous verification and calibration phase that was completed by June 2024, the data are now fully processed and ready for scientific use.

The Sun, containing more than 99 per cent of the Solar System’s mass, serves as a natural laboratory for plasma physics. Its atmosphere presents some of the most intriguing mysteries in astrophysics, such as the coronal heating problem and the existence of a million-degree corona above cooler surface layers.

According to experts at IUCCA, ultraviolet radiation and energetic eruptions from the Sun strongly influence space weather, impacting satellites, communications, navigation systems, and even power grids on Earth.

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“Understanding these processes is therefore crucial, not just for basic science but also for safeguarding space-based and ground-based systems,” a statement issued on Wednesday said.

The statement also added that another of SUIT’s prime objectives is to study solar radiation in the 2000–4000 Å band, constraining the Sun–climate connection and, for the first time, allowing detailed investigations into the spectral distribution of energy during solar flares. This unique capability is expected to provide new insights into the physics of solar eruptions and their energetics.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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