India’s solar probe has successfully entered solar orbit after a journey lasting four months. This marks the latest achievement in India’s space exploration ambitions, making it the most populous country in the world.
The Aditya-L1 solar probe enters solar orbit on January 6 – (Illustrative photo: INDIA TODAY).
The Aditya-L1 Solar Probe was launched by India in September 2023, carrying a series of instruments to measure and observe the outer layers of the Sun.
In a statement on January 6, Indian Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh announced that the probe has reached its designated orbit “to explore the mysteries of the relationship between the Sun and Earth.”
Aditya-L1 has arrived at an orbit around the Lagrange Point 1 (L1) in space, located about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, on the morning of January 6.
In recent years, the United States and the European Space Agency have sent several probes to the center of the solar system, starting with the Pioneer program by NASA in the 1960s.
Japan and China have also launched solar observation missions. However, India is the first Asian country to place a probe in orbit around the Sun, according to AFP news agency.
In a statement on January 6, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed this as another “milestone” in the country’s space program.
“This is a testament to the relentless dedication of our scientists. India will continue to pursue new scientific frontiers for the benefit of humanity,” he wrote on social media.
