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ISRO will perform the final manoeuvre on Saturday to inject Aditya-L1 spacecraft — the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun — into its final destination orbit, some 1.5 million kilometres from the Earth. According to ISRO officials, the spacecraft will be placed in a halo orbit around Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system, about 1.5 million km from the Earth. The L1 point is about one per cent of the total distance between the Earth and the Sun.

A satellite in a halo orbit around the L1 point has the major advantage of continuously viewing the Sun without any occultations/eclipses, they said, adding, this will provide a greater advantage in observing solar activities and its effect on space weather in real time.

“This manoeuvre (at around 4pm 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 PTI on Friday.

The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C57) launched the Aditya-L1 spacecraft from the second launch pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, on September 2 last year.

After a flight duration of 63 minutes and 20 seconds, it was successfully injected into an elliptical orbit of 235×19500 km around the Earth.

The spacecraft underwent a series of manoeuvres thereafter and headed Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1(L1), having escaped the Earth’s sphere of influence.

The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (the corona) using electromagnetic and particle and magnetic field detectors.

“Using the special vantage point L1, four payloads directly view the Sun and the remaining three payloads carry out in-situ studies of particles and fields at the Lagrange point L1, thus providing important scientific studies of the propagatory effect of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium,” according to the space agency.

The suits of Aditya L1 payloads are expected to provide the “most crucial information” to understand the problem of coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activities and their characteristics, dynamics of space weather, and propagation of particles and fields, officials said.

The major science objectives of the Aditya-L1 mission are:

  • Study of the Solar upper atmospheric (chromosphere and corona) dynamics.
  • Study of chromosphere and coronal heating, physics of the partially ionized plasma, 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.
  • Physics of the solar corona and its heating mechanism.
  • Diagnostics of the coronal and coronal loops plasma: Temperature, velocity and density.
  • Development, dynamics and origin of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
  • 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.
  • Drivers for space weather (origin, composition and dynamics of solar wind).
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20,000-Year-Old Transport Marks in New Mexico Reveal Early American Mobility

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March 5, 2025

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20,000-Year-Old Transport Marks in New Mexico Reveal Early American Mobility

Marks resembling sled-like tracks alongside footprints at White Sands National Park in New Mexico suggest that wooden travois-style transport was used by the earliest known Americans over 20,000 years ago. Researchers studying the site believe that ancient inhabitants of the region utilised wooden poles bound together to drag goods and possibly people across the landscape. Indigenous knowledge and experimental archaeology indicate that these marks likely originated from a rudimentary form of transport, which predates the use of wheels.

Findings from White Sands National Park

According to the study published in Quaternary Science Advances, drag marks extending up to 50 metres were identified alongside human footprints. The marks varied in form, with some appearing as single lines—suggesting an A-shaped structure—while others showed two parallel lines, indicative of an X-shaped design. The study’s lead author, Matthew Bennett, Professor of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at Bournemouth University, stated in an official press release that these traces provide the first direct evidence of how early humans transported heavy loads.

Comparison with Indigenous Practices

Indigenous groups from the Great Plains, including parts of present-day New Mexico, historically used similar structures to transport homes and belongings. These were initially pulled by dogs and later by horses after European contact. The study’s findings suggest that similar methods may have been employed thousands of years earlier, with adults pulling the travois while children walked alongside. Co-author Sally Reynolds, a mammalian palaeontologist at Bournemouth University, said that understanding ancient movement patterns is key to reconstructing the lives of early settlers in the Americas.

Testing the Travois Theory

To verify the hypothesis, researchers constructed travois replicas using wooden poles and tested them in muddy terrains in the UK and the US. The resulting marks closely resembled those found at White Sands. These tests reinforced the idea that prehistoric people likely used similar methods to transport goods across harsh environments.

Implications for Early American History

Previous research at White Sands has dated human footprints at the site to between 21,000 and 23,000 years ago, challenging earlier estimates of human arrival in North America. While some scholars debate these dates, the presence of drag marks alongside footprints remains a significant indicator of early transport methods. The study highlights an ancient yet sophisticated means of mobility long before the advent of the wheel.

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T Coronae Borealis Nova Event: When and Where to See the ‘Blaze Star’



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T Coronae Borealis Nova Event: When and Where to See the ‘Blaze Star’

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March 5, 2025

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T Coronae Borealis Nova Event: When and Where to See the 'Blaze Star'

T Coronae Borealis, commonly known as the ‘Blaze Star,’ is expected to undergo a rare outburst, making it visible to the naked eye for a short period. Located around 3,000 light-years away in the constellation Corona Borealis, this recurrent nova brightens approximately every 80 years due to a thermonuclear explosion on its surface. Predictions had placed the event between April and September 2024, but as it has not yet occurred, astronomers believe the eruption is imminent. The star has remained faint in recent months, but with its host constellation rising in the evening sky, skywatchers have a key opportunity to locate it before its expected brightening.

Predicted Timing of the Nova

According to reports, the constellation Corona Borealis will become visible in the eastern sky about three hours after sunset in March 2025. Within four hours of sunset, the star’s position will be easier to identify. If the nova occurs as predicted, the star’s brightness will rapidly increase, reaching a magnitude similar to Polaris, the North Star, before fading over the following days. Since such an event has not been observed since 1946, astronomers are closely monitoring any changes in brightness.

Where to Locate T Coronae Borealis

T Coronae Borealis is positioned between two of the brightest stars in the night sky—Vega in the northeast and Arcturus in the east. Locating the Big Dipper and following the arc of its handle to Arcturus provides a simple way to find the constellation. Corona Borealis appears as a semicircle of stars, with the ‘Blaze Star’ situated near Epsilon CrB, one of its brighter members.

Understanding the Nova Event

T Coronae Borealis is a binary star system consisting of a white dwarf and a red giant. Over time, the white dwarf accumulates material from its companion until a thermonuclear reaction ignites, causing a dramatic increase in brightness. Observations in 2023 suggested that the nova was approaching, though an explosion has yet to be recorded. Since such an event is expected to last about a week, astronomers are encouraging skywatchers to familiarize themselves with the star’s location in advance.

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Firefly Blue Ghost Moon Lander Successfully Lands on Moon for NASA Mission



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Firefly’s Moon Lander Just Made History with a Successful Touchdown

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March 5, 2025

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Firefly’s Moon Lander Just Made History with a Successful Touchdown

A significant milestone in space exploration has been reached with the successful landing of the Blue Ghost moon lander on the lunar surface. The spacecraft, developed by Firefly Aerospace, became the second privately built vehicle to execute a soft landing on the Moon. The mission, conducted in partnership with NASA, carried ten scientific experiments aimed at studying the lunar environment. Confirmation of the landing was received early on March 2, with images showcasing Earth visible above the Moon.

Landing Sequence Executed as Planned

According to reports, the descent was initiated at 2:30 a.m. EST with an engine burn to adjust the lander’s trajectory. Positioned at an altitude of approximately 100 kilometres before descent, the spacecraft was directed towards its pre-selected landing site within Mare Crisium, a volcanic plain on the Moon’s near side. Following a controlled descent lasting nearly an hour, the primary engine was deactivated, and the spacecraft switched to its reaction control system for fine adjustments. A boulder-free area was autonomously identified, and the final descent was executed, leading to a successful touchdown at 3:34 a.m. EST.

NASA and Firefly Aerospace React to the Achievement

Excitement over the success was expressed by officials, with the milestone being acknowledged as a major achievement. It was later confirmed by Firefly Aerospace that all phases of the landing had proceeded without complications, and the presence of lunar dust on the lander was noted.

Scientific Goals and Future Observations

The mission, named Ghost Riders in the Sky, is expected to operate for approximately 14 Earth days. Instruments onboard will analyse radiation levels, test new methods for lunar sample collection, and conduct additional studies beneficial for future Artemis missions. On March 14, high-definition footage of a total solar eclipse as viewed from the Moon’s surface is scheduled to be captured, with further observations planned until lunar sunset on March 16.

Expanding Private Lunar Exploration

As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, the Blue Ghost lander is among several private missions aiming to expand lunar exploration capabilities. A $93 million contract had been awarded to Firefly Aerospace for this mission, with future landings expected in subsequent years. Other companies, including Intuitive Machines and ispace, are also preparing for lunar landings, further advancing commercial participation in space exploration.

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