Aditya –L1

India has launched Aditya –L1 from the launch pad at Sriharikota under its first Solar Mission to study the Sun today at 11.50. It will travel four months, covering one percent of the distance between the Earth and the Sun i. e. 1.5 million km, to reach Lagrange point 1, where the gravitational forces of the Sun and the Earth cancel each other out. The spacecraft will travel several times around the Earth before heading towards L1, at which it will orbit the Sun at the same rate as the Earth and it will require very little fuel. Moreover, L1is a place from where Aditya will be able to watch and carry out scientific studies constantly without being interrupted by eclipses. The mission is expected to cost approximately 3.78 billion rupees. The orbiter carries seven scientific instruments that will observe and study the outermost layer of the Sun, the Sun's surface and the thin layer of plasma that lies between the Layer and the surface. The studies will help scientists understand solar activities, such as solar wind and solar flares, and their effect on Earth and near-space weather in real time. If Aditya-L1 is successful, India will join Japan, US and European Space Agency that are already studying the Sun.