Indian scientists have achieved a milestone with Aditya-L1, the country’s first solar observation mission. This development promises better protection for Earth’s power grids and satellites from harmful solar activities.

On July 16, Aditya-L1’s Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) recorded crucial data pinpointing the start of a coronal mass ejection (CME). CMEs, massive solar explosions from the Sun’s outer corona, are central to the mission’s study.

The Power and Impact of Solar Events

CMEs can weigh up to a trillion kilograms and travel at 3,000 kilometers per second. At such speeds, they reach Earth in as little as 15 hours. Prof. R. Ramesh, who designed VELC, emphasizes their immense energy.

VELC observed a CME on July 16 that initially seemed to head toward Earth but veered away within 30 minutes. Despite missing Earth, solar flares and storms frequently affect satellites, power grids, and communications. While harmless to humans, these events can disrupt the Earth’s magnetic field, causing significant problems.

Auroras at the poles are a visible effect of solar storms, but powerful CMEs can push auroras to unlikely locations, such as London or Paris. More severe effects occur in space, where CMEs disrupt satellite electronics, leading to communication and weather system failures.

Prof. Ramesh warns of potential chaos from a CME affecting communication satellites. The 1859 Carrington Event caused telegraph failures worldwide, and a near-miss in 2012 could have had similar consequences. In 1989, a CME-induced outage in Quebec left six million without power.

Advancing Solar Monitoring for Better Predictions

Real-time monitoring of solar activity helps scientists predict solar storms and CMEs, enabling preventive measures. By shutting down grids or safeguarding satellites, the damage from these events can be minimized. Space agencies worldwide have observed the Sun for decades, and with Aditya-L1, India joins the elite group contributing to solar studies.

Aditya-L1’s unique positioning allows continuous observation of the Sun, free from eclipses. It provides a clear view of the Sun’s corona, usually visible only during solar eclipses. This advantage enables Aditya-L1 to study CME origins better than the NASA-ESA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO).

India’s three ground-based solar observatories complement Aditya-L1’s data, improving global solar research. Prof. Ramesh highlights the advantage of India’s coronagraph, which offers a full view of the corona, unlike SOHO’s limited coverage.

Aditya-L1 enhances our ability to track CMEs and understand solar activity. This mission is a significant step in protecting Earth and space infrastructure from disruptive solar events.