Aditya-L1 completes key orbit manoeuvre

Aditya-L1 has successfully performed its first Earth-bound manoeuvre, indicating it is healthy and "performing optimally", the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) said on Sunday - a day after India's first solar mission embarked on a 125-day journey before it is placed in a halo orbit about 1.5 million kilometres from Earth.

The process for the satellite's final placement at Ll point will require a series of intricate manoeuvres, the first of which was performed at 11.45am on Sunday.

"The satellite is healthy and operating nominally. The first Earth-bound maneuver (EBN#1) is performed successfully from ISTRAC, Bengaluru. The new orbit attained is 245km x 22,459 km," the space agency said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"The next manoeuvre (EBN# 2) is scheduled for September 5, 2023, around 03:00," it added.

Four other such manoeuvres are scheduled, during which the space agency will raise the satellite's orbit near Earth for a fortnight, so that it gathers enough momentum to be launched into its 1.5 million kilometre journey.