Aditya L1 solar space mission

Why in news?

• The community service centre has been set up to bring all data on board Aditya L1 solar space mission to a single web-based interface

About the support cell:

• The community service centre will bring all data on board Aditya L1, India’s first dedicated solar space mission, to a single web-based interface enabling the users to quickly look at the data and identify the interesting science cases.
• The service centre called Aditya-L1 Support Cell (AL1SC) is a joint effort of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES) an autonomous institute of the Department of Science & Technology.
• AL1SC set up at the transit campus of ARIES at Haldwani, Uttarakhand,
• It will be used by the guest observers in analyzing science data and preparing science observing proposals and will help maximize utilization of science data from Aditya-L1.
• The centre will act as conduit between the users (student and faculty members from research Institutes/ Universities/ Colleges etc.) and payload teams of Aditya-L1 and solar astronomy research community at large.
• The centre will also provide the co-aligned data from other observatories around the world that can complement the data obtained from Aditya-L1 allowing users to accomplish the science goals beyond the capabilities of the Aditya-L1.
• In addition to this AL1SC will also build capacity by establishing periodic training of the national user community on data analysis and proposal preparation.

About Aditya L1 Mission

• Aditya L1 will be ISRO’s 2nd space-based astronomy mission after AstroSat, which was launched in 2015.
• Aditya L1 will be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) XL with 7 payloads (instruments) on board.
• Aditya L1 will study the Sun’s corona (Visible and near infrared rays), Sun's photosphere (soft and hard X-ray), chromosphere (Ultra Violet), solar emissions, solar winds and flares, and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and will carry out round-the-clock imaging of the Sun.
• The distance of the Sun from Earth (approximately 15 crore kms on average, compared to the only 3.84 lakh kms to the Moon). This huge distance poses a scientific challenge.
• Due to the risks involved, payloads in earlier ISRO missions have largely remained stationary in space; however, Aditya L1 will have some moving components which increases the risks of collision.
• Other issues are the super-hot temperatures and radiation in the solar atmosphere. However, Aditya L1 will stay much farther away, and the heat is not expected to be a major concern for the instruments on board.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements regarding Aditya-L1 Mission:
1.It will be ISRO’s first space-based astronomy mission.
2.Aditya L1 will be launched using the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question