NEW DELHI: In a boost for India’s Solar mission, Isro’s spacecraft Aditya L1 has started sending data that is shedding light on the mysteries of solar wind as the Aditya Solar wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) payload on board the satellite has “commenced its operations and is performing normally”, an Isro statement said.
ASPEX, comprising two cutting-edge instruments – the Solar wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS) and SupraThermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer (STEPS), is operating seamlessly.While the STEPS instrument became operational on September 10, theSWIS instrument was activated on November 2 and had exhibited optimal performance, an Isro statement said.
“The SWIS instrument has demonstrated optimal performance in measuring solar wind ions, notably protons and alpha particles. With two sensor units providing a remarkable 360° field of view each, SWIS operates in perpendicular planes, offering detailed insights into solar wind behaviour,” Isro said. The agency said a sample energy histogram from November showcased variations in proton (H+) and alpha particle (He2+) counts, providing a comprehensive snapshot with nominal integration time.
The spacecraft is currently on its way to Lagrange Point L1, where it is likely to reach in January. From the L1 point, the spacecraft will constantly observe the Sun without any occultation or eclipses. Before solar wind, Aditya-L1 captured high energy X-ray glimpses of solar flares in November for the first time after its launch from Sriharikota on September 2.
The directional capabilities of SWIS payload enable precise measurements of solar wind protons and alphas, contributing significantly to addressing longstanding questions about solar wind properties, underlying processes, and their impact on Earth.
The change in the proton and alpha particle number ratio, as observed by SWIS, holds the potential to provide indirect information about the arrival of coronal mass ejections at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point L1. Enhanced alpha-to-proton ratio is often regarded as one of the sensitive markers of the passage of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) at the L1 and hence considered crucial for space weather studies, the statement said.
As researchers delve deeper into the collected data, the international scientific community eagerly awaits the wealth of knowledge that Aditya-L’’s ASPEX is set to unveil about the enigmatic solar wind and its implications for our planet. Researchers are optimistic that these findings will contribute significantly to our understanding of solar phenomena and enhance space weather forecasting capabilities.
ASPEX, comprising two cutting-edge instruments – the Solar wind Ion Spectrometer (SWIS) and SupraThermal and Energetic Particle Spectrometer (STEPS), is operating seamlessly.While the STEPS instrument became operational on September 10, theSWIS instrument was activated on November 2 and had exhibited optimal performance, an Isro statement said.
“The SWIS instrument has demonstrated optimal performance in measuring solar wind ions, notably protons and alpha particles. With two sensor units providing a remarkable 360° field of view each, SWIS operates in perpendicular planes, offering detailed insights into solar wind behaviour,” Isro said. The agency said a sample energy histogram from November showcased variations in proton (H+) and alpha particle (He2+) counts, providing a comprehensive snapshot with nominal integration time.
The spacecraft is currently on its way to Lagrange Point L1, where it is likely to reach in January. From the L1 point, the spacecraft will constantly observe the Sun without any occultation or eclipses. Before solar wind, Aditya-L1 captured high energy X-ray glimpses of solar flares in November for the first time after its launch from Sriharikota on September 2.
The directional capabilities of SWIS payload enable precise measurements of solar wind protons and alphas, contributing significantly to addressing longstanding questions about solar wind properties, underlying processes, and their impact on Earth.
The change in the proton and alpha particle number ratio, as observed by SWIS, holds the potential to provide indirect information about the arrival of coronal mass ejections at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point L1. Enhanced alpha-to-proton ratio is often regarded as one of the sensitive markers of the passage of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) at the L1 and hence considered crucial for space weather studies, the statement said.
As researchers delve deeper into the collected data, the international scientific community eagerly awaits the wealth of knowledge that Aditya-L’’s ASPEX is set to unveil about the enigmatic solar wind and its implications for our planet. Researchers are optimistic that these findings will contribute significantly to our understanding of solar phenomena and enhance space weather forecasting capabilities.