After the succesful launch of Chandrayaan-3, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), is now getting ready to launch its pioneering mission to study the Sun, named Aditya L1. The Aditya Mission that was conceptualised in 2008, was postponed numerous times due to budget crunch.
However, the mission is all set to liftoff on August 26, 2023. ISRO has planned this project at a whopping Rs 378.53 crore excluding the launching costs. Initially in Fy17, the mission was planned as an experimental project with a small 400 kg low-Earth orbiting satellite to study the solar corona with a budget of Rs 3 crore. Now, the scope of the project is expanded to be a comprehensive solar and space environment observatory to be placed at the L1 point.
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The L1 point of the Sun denotes Lagrange Point 1, one of two important points between Earth and Sun, which helps in uninterrupted observation of sun. The ISRO will be using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle to deploy the Aditya L1 satellite. The mission is expected to take about 109 days after launch to reach the halo orbit around the L1 point.