Aditya-L1 made ASPEX payload operational, unlocking the secrets of Solar winds

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Indian Space Research Organization has given another good news for the citizens. After the successful launch of Chandryaan and Aditya-L1, the scientists from the organization has confirmed that Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment has made operational of December 2, 2023 and is working normally.

As informed by the agency ASPEX consisting of two instruments, one is the Solar Wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS) and SupraThermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer (STEPS). The STEPS instrument starting operating on September 10 while SWIS instrument was activated on December 2.

SWIS is utilizing its two sensor units with a 360-degree field view each to measure solar wind ions primarily protons and alpha particles. The agency has also shared a graph showing energy variations in proton (H++) and alpa particle (doubly ionized helium) captured by SWIS from the past two days.

The mission was launched on September 2, 2023, with the budget of 400 crores. The final maneuvers to place Aditya L1 into a halo orbit around the L1 point are expected to be completed by 7 January 2024.

Objectives of Aditya-L1 Mission

• To study upper atmospheric dynamics of Sun which is known as chromosphere and corona.
• To study the physics of the partially ionized plasma, initiation of the coronal mass ejections, and flares.
• Providing information to study the particle dynamics from the sun by observing the in-situ particles and plasma environment.
• Physics of solar corona and its heating mechanism. As well as thorough diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma including Temperature, velocity, and density.
• To study the topology and measurement of Magnetic field in the solar corona.
• To collect information about the development, Dynamics, and origin of CMEs.
• To identify the sequence of processes that occurs at chromosphere, base and extended corona.
• Driver for space weather.