Aditya-L1 Mission Detects Solar Wind Effects on Payload Corona Mass Injection

Aditya-L1 Mission: According to ISRO, advanced sensors aboard India’s first solar mission, Aditya-L1, have successfully detected the effects of CoronaMass Injections (CMEs). The payload – Plasma Analyzer Package for Aditya (PAPA) – is an energy and mass analyzer designed for in-situ measurements of solar wind electrons and ions within a low-energy range.

It comprises two sensors: Solar Wind Electron Energy Analyzer (SWEEP, measuring electrons within an energy range of 10 eV to 3 keV) and Solar Wind Ion Composition Analyzer (SWICAR, measuring ions within an energy range of 10 eV to 25 keV and with a mass range of 1-60 amu). The sensors are also equipped to measure the arrival direction of solar wind particles.

Data collected by PAPA, developed by ISRO’s Space Physics Laboratory and Avionics Unit, particularly during December 15, 2023, and February 10-11, 2024, revealed incidents of CME events.

 

“On December 15, 2023, there was a single event of CME. During this period, PAPA observations witnessed sudden increases in total electron and ion counts, along with the reorientation of solar wind parameters and magnetic field lines obtained from the Deep Space Climate Observatory and advanced composition explorer at L1 point,” stated ISRO in a statement.

In contrast, differences observed in electron and ion counts during February 10-11, 2024, are attributed to several minor events, indicating variations in electron and ion arrival times.

ISRO noted that the continuous observation of solar wind electrons and ions by SWEEP and SWICAR sensors on PAPA demonstrated their performance according to the design in all operational modes.

It’s highlighted that comments made by PAPA enhance its capability to monitor space weather conditions and identify and analyze solar events effectively.

The launch of Aditya-L1 was successfully completed by ISRO using the PSLV-C57 rocket on September 2. Aditya-L1, carrying seven payloads, aims to study the Sun, including four for solar observation and the remaining three for in-situ measurements of plasma and magnetic fields.

Placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrangian point 1 (L1), which is approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth in the direction of the Sun, ISRO officials said it orbits in a quasi-stable manner, allowing continuous monitoring of the Sun from all sides.

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