Indian Space Research Organisation’s Aditya-L1, India’s first mission to study the sun, is set to reach its final destination orbit on Saturday, over four months after it began its ambitious journey from ISRO’s Sriharikota launchpad.

Built at a cost of Rs 400 crore, the nearly 1,500 kg satellite will function as the first space-based Indian observatory to study the sun nearly 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth.

The satellite is expected to be placed in a halo orbit around Lagrange point 1 (L1) at around 4 pm. The final insertion point was chosen for its advantageous position which remains unhindered by eclipses and can be used to view the Sun continuously. 

“This manoeuvre (at around 4 pm on Saturday) will bind the Aditya-L1 to a halo orbit around L1. If we don’t do this, there is a possibility that it will continue its journey, maybe towards the Sun,” an ISRO official told news agency PTI.

The space observatory will keep an eye on the changing space weather and warn scientists about unfavourable changes including solar storms and flares that may impact the working of satellites. A solar storm is a large-scale magnetic eruption on the Sun, which can effect the entire solar system.

“Since Aditya-L1 will look at Sun continuously, it can warn us of imminent solar electro-magnetic effects on Earth and protect our satellites, and other power electrical and communications networks from getting disrupted. This will help continue normal operations by operating them in safe modes, till the solar storm passes by,” ISRO Chairman S Somanath had told NDTV.

Mr Somnath said that India has assets worth over ₹ 50,000 crores in space including over 50 operational satellites that need to be protected against the wrath of the Sun.

The Aditya-L1 satellite, carrying seven payloads, will also conduct scientific experiments to better understand the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic, particle and magnetic field detectors.

Apart from the less-studied solar weather, the satellite will gain crucial information about pre-flare and flare activities and the dynamics of space weather.

According to ISRO, these are the major scientific objectives of Aditya-L1 mission:

Study solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics
Study chromospheric and coronal heating, the physics of the partially ionized plasma, the initiation of the coronal mass ejections, and flares
Observe the in-situ particle and plasma environment, providing data for the study of particle dynamics from the Sun
Study the physics of solar corona and its heating mechanism
Diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma: Temperature, velocity and density
Development, dynamics and origin of CME (Coronal Mass Ejections)
Identify the sequence of processes that occur at multiple layers (chromosphere, base and extended corona) which eventually leads to solar eruptive events
Magnetic field topology and magnetic field measurements in the solar corona
The origin, composition and dynamics of solar wind, the drivers for space weather

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who has so far not received an invitation for the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22, today said he and his party leaders will visit Kalaram temple in Nashik that day and perform a ‘maha aarti’ on the Godavari river bank.

Talking to reporters here after paying respects to his mother late Meena Thackeray on her birth anniversary, the former chief minister said he will visit Ayodhya whenever he feels like.

“The consecration of Ayodhya Ram temple is a matter of pride and self-respect. On that day (January 22), we will visit the Kalaram temple at 6.30 pm where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and (social reformer) Sane Guruji had to stage protests. At 7.30 pm, we will hold a maha aarti on the banks of the Godavari river,” Mr Thackeray said.

The Kalaram temple, located in Panchavati area of Nashik, is dedicated to Lord Ram. The temple derives its name from the idol of Lord Ram carved out of black stone. It is believed that Lord Ram stayed in Panchavati with wife Sita and his brother Lakshman during their exile.

In 1930, Dr Ambedkar had led a protest at the Kalaram temple to seek entry of Dalits into the temple.

The consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya will be held on January 22. Uddhav Thackeray has not received an invitation for the event.

Uddhav Thackeray also said that on January 23, the birth anniversary of his father and Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray, the party will hold a rally in Nashik.

Last Saturday, Uddhav Thackeray had told reporters, “I have not received any invitation yet and I don’t need one to visit Ayodhya as Ram Lalla belongs to everyone. Whenever I feel like it, I will go. Shiv Sena had contributed a lot to the Ram temple movement.”
 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Christian Oliver, known for his performances in movies such as Speed Racer, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny and Valkyrie, passed away on Thursday along with his two young daughters after their plane crashed into the water off the coast of a Caribbean island, as reported by a leading news portal. Oliver was 51 years old. The plane’s owner and pilot, Robert Sachs, also died in the tragic accident.

Officials reported that the privately-owned plane went down while en route to St. Lucia from Bequia, a small island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, after departing from J.F. Mitchell Airport on Thursday afternoon. Among those who tragically lost their lives were Oliver’s daughters, Madita, aged 12, and Annik, aged 10.

Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft encountered difficulties and nosedived into the ocean, according to a statement from the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. Fishermen and divers from Paget Farm rushed to the scene in their boats to provide assistance.

All four bodies have been found, and an investigation into the cause of the crash is underway. Local reports indicate that the pilot informed the tower of difficulties shortly after takeoff and stated an intention to return. This was the plane’s final communication.

Oliver had recently completed shooting the last scenes of his newest movie, Forever Hold Your Peace, which was directed by Nick Lyon and also featured Bai Ling.

Oliver, originally from Germany, worked with Steven Soderbergh on The Good German, alongside Cate Blanchett and George Clooney. He also collaborated with Brian Singer and Tom Cruise on Valkyrie and the Wachowskis on Speed Racer in 2008. His television appearances include Saved By the Bell: The New Class, and his latest movie role was in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.