THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India's first solar probe, PSLV-XL57 will lift off tomorrow from the Sriharikota launch pad carrying Aditya-L1. Aditya will be placed in an orbit 800 km above Earth. From there, Aditya will commence its journey towards its target, the First Langrangian Point which is 15 lakh kilometers away from the Sun.

The 1500 kg spacecraft will travel for four months and is expected to reach its destination in December 2023 or January of the following year. Aditya should settle into an orbit around the Langrangian point. This position is only one percent of the distance from Earth to the Sun approximately four times the distance from the Earth to the Moon. Aditya will exist there in a special orbit around the Sun, akin to an artificial planet. It is equipped with seven instruments for observing the Sun.

Just like Earth, Aditya also completes an orbit around the sun in 365 days. This advantageous feature is due to its position at the L1 point. Aditya remains perpetually outside the shadow of the Earth or the Moon, allowing for continuous observation of the Sun without the interruption of day or night.

A minimal amount of fuel will be required to maintain its orbit. The spacecraft will be powered by solar panels ensuring the availability of electricity for operating its equipment and communication purposes.