India’s maiden solar mission Aditya L1 will reach its destination, the Lagrangian point (L1) which is located 1.5 million km from Earth, on January 6, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath said on Friday (Dec 22).

Aditya L1 mission will reach destination on Jan 6: ISRO chief

While speeding on an expressway in the cruise control mode, once in a while the driver has to intervene and steer the vehicle on its intended lane. Likewise, when travelling at a speed that measures several thousand kilometres per hour, it is necessary to gently steer a spacecraft to ensure it remains on the ideal path to its destination.

ISRO gently steers Sun-study mission Aditya-L1, as it cruises to its destination

India's solar mission spacecraft, Aditya-L1, has travelled beyond a distance of 9.2 lakh kilometres from Earth, successfully escaping the sphere of Earth's influence and is now navigating its path towards the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) said on Saturday (Sep 30).

India's Aditya-L1 spacecraft successfully escapes sphere of Earth's influence: ISRO

After 17 days of circling Earth, India's solar observatory Aditya-L1 craft has been slingshot on a long journey towards its destination, 1.5 million kilometres away from Earth.

High-five for ISRO's 'slingshot technique' as Aditya-L1 leaves Earth's orbit for its destination

Just days after India achieved the first lunar landing near the unexplored south pole of Moon, the Indian Space Research Organisation launched its Aditya-L1 mission successfully to study the Sun at 11:50 am on Saturday from the launchpad at Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.

Aditya L-1 launch: India's solar mission lifts off, takes country closer to sun after moon landmark

India's first solar probe to blast off on September 2 after last week’s successful moon touchdown, Aditya-L1, first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun. Aditya, meaning "Sun" in Hindi, will be fired into a halo orbit in a region of space about 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, providing the craft with a continuous clear view of the Sun.

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