Aditya-L1 is placed in a halo orbit around which type of gravitationally balanced point in space?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 2 i.e. Lagrangian.
Aditya-L1 is positioned in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian Point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, located about 1.5 million km from Earth. These points are regions where the gravitational forces of two large bodies (Sun and Earth) and the centrifugal force balance out. This specific location allows the satellite to continuously view the Sun without any occultation or eclipses, ensuring uninterrupted solar observations and efficient fuel usage for orbit maintenance.
Other Options:
- Polar: Orbits passing over the Earth's poles; used mainly for mapping and earth observation.
- Sun-synchronous: A near-polar orbit where the satellite passes over any given point at the same local solar time.
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Geostationary: An orbit 35,786 km above the equator where the satellite appears stationary relative to Earth.