At which Lagrange point does the Aditya-L1 spacecraft orbit?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Answer: Option (1) is L1.
Explanation:
India's first solar mission, Aditya-L1, has been placed in a Halo Orbit around Lagrange Point 1 (L1), located approximately 1.5 million (15 lakh) kilometers away from Earth. Lagrange points are specific locations in space where the gravitational forces of two massive bodies (such as the Sun and Earth) balance out the centrifugal force experienced by a smaller object (such as a satellite). The primary advantage of being positioned at the L1 point is that it allows for a continuous (24x7) view of the Sun, free from any eclipses or obstructions. ISRO launched this mission on September 2, 2023, using the PSLV-C57 rocket, and it successfully reached its designated orbit on January 6, 2024.
Additional Points:
L2 (Lagrange Point 2): This point is located behind Earth (away from the Sun). The renowned James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is positioned at this very point.
GEO (Geostationary Orbit): This is an orbit situated approximately 35,786 km above Earth's surface, where satellites move in sync with Earth's rotation.
SSO (Sun-Synchronous Orbit): This is a polar orbit frequently utilized by remote sensing satellites.
Aditya-L1 Payloads: The mission carries 7 payloads, the primary among which is VELC, designed to study the solar corona.
Potential Exam Questions and Answers:
Question: Which launch vehicle (rocket) was used to launch Aditya-L1?
Answer: PSLV-C57.
Question: How many Lagrange points exist in total between the Earth and the Sun?
Answer: Five (L1, L2, L3, L4, and L5).
Question: What is the estimated duration of the Aditya-L1 mission? Answer: Approximately 5.2 years.