Aditya-L1 Initiates Scientific Data Collection with STEPS Instrument

TFP Bureau,Bangalore; Sep 18, 2023: The Aditya-L1 mission, India’s ambitious endeavor to study the Sun and its impact on Earth, has achieved a significant milestone. The Supra Thermal & Energetic Particle Spectrometer (STEPS) instrument, a crucial component of the Aditya Solar Wind Particle EXperiment (ASPEX) payload, has commenced its collection of valuable scientific data.

STEPS is a remarkable instrument consisting of six sensors, each designed to observe in different directions. Its primary purpose is to measure supra-thermal and energetic ions, spanning from 20 keV/nucleon to 5 MeV/nucleon, in addition to electrons exceeding 1 MeV. The instrument utilizes both low and high-energy particle spectrometers to gather this essential information. The data obtained during Earth’s orbits will play a pivotal role in helping scientists analyze the behavior of particles in the vicinity of our planet, particularly in the presence of Earth’s magnetic field.

The activation of STEPS took place on September 10, 2023, at a considerable distance exceeding 50,000 km from Earth. To put this into perspective, this distance is more than 8 times the Earth’s radius, safely positioning it beyond Earth’s radiation belt region. Following successful instrument health checks, the data collection process was initiated and continued until the spacecraft had moved even farther away, maintaining its distance beyond 50,000 km from Earth.

Each unit within the STEPS instrument is functioning well within normal parameters, ensuring the reliability of its scientific observations. Notably, one of the units has already provided valuable measurements, illustrating variations in the energetic particle environment within Earth’s magnetosphere.

These STEPS measurements will persist throughout the cruise phase of the Aditya-L1 mission, as the spacecraft progresses on its journey towards the Sun-Earth L1 point. Once positioned in its intended orbit, data collection will resume. The information gathered around L1 will offer crucial insights into the origin, acceleration, and anisotropy of solar wind and space weather phenomena.

The development of STEPS is credited to the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), with significant support from the Space Application Centre (SAC) located in Ahmedabad.

With STEPS in action, the Aditya-L1 mission is poised to uncover essential insights into the Sun’s activities and their impact on Earth’s space environment, contributing to our understanding of space weather and its implications for our planet.

*Variation in integrated counts over time recorded by one of the STEPS Sensors on September 10, 2023*

The Aditya-L1 mission marks a significant step forward in India’s space exploration efforts, furthering our understanding of the Sun’s influence on Earth and expanding the realm of scientific knowledge.