The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is gearing up for a crucial manoeuvre to position the Aditya L1 spacecraft, India's first space-based solar observatory, into its designated orbit approximately 15 lakh kilometres away from Earth. To shed light on the intricacies of this mission, Hindustan Times Digital interviewed Manish Purohit, a former ISRO scientist with expertise in critical space missions.

During Aditya L1's 127-day journey, key milestones included overcoming Earth's gravity, adjusting its course towards the Lagrangian point, and constant observation with help from the European Space Agency. The upcoming manoeuvre on Saturday involves aligning thrusters to finalize Aditya L1's orbit.

Purohit drew a comparison with Chandrayaan 3 to explain the manoeuvre, emphasizing the precision required in awakening hibernated thrusters. Once in its halo orbit, Aditya L1 faces challenges in maintaining stability, navigating a convoluted orbit, and avoiding collisions with other spacecraft.

The expert highlighted potential consequences if Aditya L1 misses its intended orbit, emphasizing the importance of fuel conservation. The mission's ultimate goal is understanding space weather, offering early warnings about solar activities and contributing valuable data to academia.

As India inches closer to achieving another milestone in space exploration, Aditya L1's mission promises not only insights into the sun's behavior but also showcases the nation's growing capabilities in space research.