The Indian Space Research Organisation said on Monday that Aditya-L1 has begun gathering scientific data, marking a significant step forward in India’s solar research endeavors. ISRO announced the information today on its official X (previously Twitter) feed.
“Aditya-L1 Mission: Aditya-L1 has commenced collecting scientific data. The sensors of the STEPS instrument have begun measuring supra-thermal and energetic ions and electrons at distances greater than 50,000 km from Earth,” the Indian space agency wrote on X.
“This data helps scientists analyze the behavior of particles surrounding Earth. The figure displays variations in the energetic particle environment, collected by one of the units,” it added.
The Supra Thermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer (STEPS) instrument, which is part of the Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload, has begun data collection, according to an official release from ISRO.
STEPS is in charge of monitoring supra-thermal and energetic ions with energies ranging from 20 (kiloelectronvolt) keV/nucleon to 5 (mega electron volt) MeV/nucleon, as well as electrons with energies surpassing 1 MeV.
STEPS was activated on September 10 at a distance of more than 50,000 km from Earth, which is more than eight times the radius of the Earth. Following necessary instrument health checks, data gathering proceeded until the spacecraft passed the 50,000 km mark from Earth.
Each STEPS unit is operating normally, and the accompanying image depicts observations indicating fluctuations in the energetic particle environment inside Earth’s magnetosphere collected by one of the units, according to the statement.
These observations will be carried out during the cruise phase of the Aditya-L1 mission as it approaches the Sun-Earth L1 point, offering critical insights into the genesis, acceleration, and anisotropy of solar wind and space weather events.
STEPS was created by the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) with assistance from the Space Application Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad, highlighting India’s rising prowess in space science and technology, according to the press release.
The Aditya-L1 spacecraft, India’s maiden mission to investigate the Sun, has made substantial progress. It just completed its fourth earth-bound maneuver, putting it closer to the mission’s targeted track.
On September 2, the spacecraft successfully launched, carrying seven distinct payloads aimed at a comprehensive study of the Sun. Four of these payloads will study the Sun’s light, while the other three will measure in-situ plasma and magnetic field characteristics.
ISRO’s portfolio of space exploration missions continues to grow, reflecting its dedication to expanding scientific understanding and space technology in India and beyond. The Aditya-L1 mission’s next maneuver is slated for September 19.
