ISRO’s Aditya-L1: Payloads, significance and impact on day-to-day life

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) recently shared photographs of the Sun and its dynamic activities during the solar storm, which occurred in May. The images were captured by payloads onboard India’s maiden solar mission Aditya-L1.

These images will be useful in studying solar flares, energy distribution, sun spot, understanding and predicting space weather, and monitoring solar activity and UV radiation over a wide wavelength range, and studying long-term solar variations, ISRO noted. 

But what are the payloads onboard Aditya-L1? How many of them are there? What is the potential impact of the mission on day-to-day life?

Payloads on board Aditya-L1

Aditya-L1 carries seven payloads to observe the Sun, each designed for specific observations. These are as follows:

Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC): This is the primary payload onboard Aditya-L1 that images the solar corona in visible and infrared wavelengths. It is designed to study the dynamics of the solar corona, including coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and coronal magnetic field. It helps to understand the heating mechanisms of the solar corona, the origin and propagation of CMEs, and provides critical data for space weather forecasting.

Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT): The second payload captures images and observes the solar photosphere and chromosphere in the near-ultraviolet (UV) range. It enables us to study the solar atmosphere’s temperature dynamics, as well as the influence of solar UV radiation on the Earth’s climate.

It’s interesting to note that SUIT and VELC captured the Sun and its dynamic activities in May when flares erupted in the active region AR13664 on the Sun. This was associated with CMEs during May 8 and 9.

Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX): The payload studies the properties of solar wind particles, including their density, velocity, and temperature. It will contribute to better understanding of the solar wind’s effects on the Earth’s space environment and the broader heliosphere (region of space surrounding the solar system that is filled with the solar magnetic field and the protons and electrons of the solar wind).

Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA): It gathers data on plasma (state of matter consisting of a hot, ionized gas with free-moving charged particles, including ions and electrons) characteristics and composition in the interplanetary space. Also, it will provide understanding of the Sun’s impact on space weather. The payload has been operational since December 2023, and detected the impact of CMEs, including those that occurred during February 10-11, 2024.

Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS): The payload is designed to monitor and analyse the solar X-ray emissions, particularly focusing on the low-energy (1 keV to 30 keV) X-ray spectrum. This allows scientists to distinguish between different types of solar events and understand heating mechanisms of the solar corona and the dynamics of solar flares.

High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS): It is specifically designed to detect high-energy (30 keV to several hundred keV) X-rays, which are produced during intense solar flares and other energetic processes in the Sun’s corona.

Magnetometer (MAG): The primary purpose of the Magnetometer is to measure the magnitude and direction of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the vicinity of the L1 point. This field is influenced by solar activity, such as solar flares, CMEs, and solar wind. The Magnetometer’s data is crucial for understanding the onset and progression of geomagnetic storms (temporary disturbance of the Earth’s magnetosphere caused by solar wind ), which can lead to spectacular auroras and potentially disruptive effects on Earth’s technology such as power supply and communication satellites.

Potential impact of the mission on day-to-day life

Aditya-L1 represents India’s entry into solar and space weather studies. The mission is a testament to India’s growing capabilities in space exploration and scientific research, following other successful missions like Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan. 

In addition, Aditya-L1 will provide valuable data that could lead to new insights into solar dynamics, the solar cycle (An 11-year cycle where the Sun’s magnetic activity alternates between high and low activity), and the Sun’s influence on space weather and Earth’s climate.

While primarily focused on scientific research and the study of the Sun, the Aditya-L1 mission has many applications that can impact day-to-day life. 

Space weather forecasting: Aditya-L1 will help improve our understanding of solar phenomena such as solar flares, CMEs, and the solar wind. These events can cause geomagnetic storms that disrupt satellite communications, and power grids on Earth. Furthermore, the enhanced ionisation can lead to degradation or loss of satellite signal and in extreme cases the solar flares can damage satellite electronics.

Many weather forecasting models rely on satellite data. Protecting these satellites ensures the accuracy and availability of weather forecasts that affect daily activities, agriculture, disaster preparedness, and more. In addition, solar flares emit charged particles that interact with Earth’s magnetic field, leading to fluctuations in magnetic field that induce currents in power line conductors (Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction), potentially causing voltage instability, transformer damage, and widespread power outages.

Climate and environmental monitoring: The Sun influences Earth’s climate, and understanding solar variability is key to studying climate change. Aditya-L1’s observations will contribute to better models of solar energy input to Earth’s climate system. Improved understanding of solar impacts on climate can lead to more accurate climate models and predictions, which are essential for agriculture such as crop yield, water resource management, disaster preparedness, and sustainability.

Radiation exposure awareness: Aditya-L1 will monitor solar radiation, particularly during solar flares and CMEs, which can increase radiation levels in space and at high altitudes. Information from Aditya-L1 can help in issuing alerts about increased radiation exposure during solar storms.

Enhanced communication and navigation: By studying the Sun’s influence on the Earth’s ionosphere, Aditya-L1 can contribute to more accurate models for predicting disruptions in satellite communication and GPS signals. This can lead to more reliable communication and navigation systems, which are critical in various industries and for everyday tasks.

Way Forward

Aditya-L1 is significant for providing unprecedented insights into solar activities like solar flares and CMEs, which affect space weather and impact Earth’s environment, including agriculture and weather. It advances global scientific knowledge and improves space weather forecasting. Some of the future prospects emanating from Aditya-L1’s success are discussed below:

Data utilisation and research: The data collected from the Aditya-L1 mission will need to be meticulously analysed by scientists and researchers. This will involve collaboration between ISRO, academic institutions, and international space agencies to extract meaningful insights from the observations. The data from this mission could open up new areas of research in solar physics, space weather, and astrophysics.

Future solar missions: Building on the success of Aditya-L1, ISRO and other space agencies might develop more advanced solar missions. These could involve more sophisticated instruments, higher resolution imaging, and even manned missions for solar exploration. Aditya-L1’s success could pave the way for other deep space missions, including missions to study other stars, interstellar space, or planets with similar magnetic and atmospheric conditions as Earth.

Global collaboration and knowledge sharing: Aditya-L1’s mission could strengthen India’s collaborations with other space agencies, fostering joint missions and shared scientific goals. This is especially important for tackling global challenges like space weather, which affects the entire planet. ISRO could consider providing open access to Aditya-L1’s data for global researchers, which would amplify the mission’s impact by allowing a broader scientific community to engage with the data and contribute to discoveries.

Mitigating space weather impacts: The data from Aditya-L1 can be used to develop and refine strategies to protect Earth’s infrastructure from space weather events. This could involve designing more resilient satellites, improving early warning systems for power grids, and safeguarding aviation and communication networks. Governments and industries could integrate space weather predictions into their risk management and disaster preparedness plans, reducing the potential economic and societal impacts of solar events.

In summary, Aditya-L1 is not just a milestone for ISRO but a significant leap forward in understanding the Sun and its influence on the solar system. The mission’s success will not only contribute to scientific knowledge but also have practical applications that benefit daily life on Earth. Moving forward, building on the knowledge and technology developed through this mission will be crucial for future space exploration, global collaboration, and the advancement of science and technology.

Post Read Question

How does the Aditya-L1 mission contribute to understanding the Sun and its influence on the solar system?

What are the objectives of the seven payloads onboard Aditya-L1? Discuss with examples.

What is the potential significance of the Aditya-L1 mission in day-to-day life?

What are the other interplanetary missions of ISRO?

(Amit Kumar is a doctoral candidate at IIT Delhi.)

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