ISRO’s Moon Landing Triumph Ignites Ambition for Upcoming Sun Mission

Sriharikota, India, August 25, 2023 – The triumphant moon landing achieved on Wednesday has infused new energy into the officials at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), propelling them towards their next ambitious mission – a journey to study the Sun. India’s successful lunar landing near the Moon’s South Pole marked a significant milestone.

The Aditya-L1 spacecraft, representing India’s first space-based observatory dedicated to studying the Sun, is currently stationed at India’s rocket port in Sriharikota, preparing for its upcoming mission.

ISRO plans to launch the Aditya-L1, a coronagraphy satellite, atop a PSLV rocket, with liftoff scheduled for the end of August or early September.

According to ISRO, the spacecraft will be positioned in a halo orbit around the first Lagrange point, L1, within the Sun-Earth system. This unique orbit offers a substantial advantage – uninterrupted observation of the Sun without the interference of occultations or eclipses.

Named after the Sun God, the Aditya-L1 satellite will be ferried into space by the Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).

In addition to this Sun-focused mission, ISRO has already set its sights on a voyage to Venus, aptly titled the Venus Mission, slated for 2024. Further details, including whether it will be a ‘Night Flight to Venus,’ will be unveiled in due course.