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• 02 September 2023

India launches its first space mission to study the Sun

• Vanita Srivastava

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India’s first solar observatory sets off on its journey to the Sun-Earth L1 point aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota. Credit: ISRO

India successfully launched its maiden space-based observatory to study the Sun from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota today (2 September 2023).

ISRO confirmed the launch of Aditya-L1 by Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C57. “India’s first solar observatory has begun its 125-day journey to the destination of Sun-Earth L1 point,” ISRO chairman S Somnath said.

The mission comes barely ten days after India became the first country to land a spacecraft on the unexplored south pole of the Moon.

Aditya-L1 on its 1.5 million km journey will be placed in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point (L1) of the Sun-Earth system which has the advantage of viewing the Sun without any eclipses. This will provide a greater advantage of observing the solar activities continuously.

“With an indigenous space-based heliophysics mission, India demonstrates yet another major space capability, and advances its pursuit of the status of a global space power,” Tomas Hrozensky, Senior Researcher at European Space Policy Institute told Nature India .

The Journey

Initially the spacecraft will be placed in a low-earth orbit that made more elliptical at a later stage. The spacecraft will be injected into a large halo orbit around L1. It will a distance four times the distance from Earth to the Moon.

“It will take the Aditya-L1 about four months to travel to its observation point,” ISRO said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“The mission will be the first space-based Indian observatory to study the Sun. It will allow scientists to study solar activities and their effect on space weather in real-time,” the ISRO chairman said.

Mylswamy Annadurai, director of India’s first Moon mission, told Nature India that Mission Aditya symbolises consolidation of India’s space programme in planetary science after the Moon and Mars.

Amitabha Ghosh, a contributor to NASA’s Rover Mission to Mars and a part of the Mars Pathfinder mission team told Nature India that more than 99% of the mass of our solar system resides in Sun. “It is therefore very important to understand the evolution of the Sun in order to understand our solar system.”

Aditya L1 will join the international effort to understand the Sun. Other missions currently monitoring the Sun are: Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter, SOHO, ACE, IRIS, WIND, Solar Dynamics Observatory and STEREO.

The mission

The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere and the outermost layers of the Sun (corona) using electromagnetic and particle field detectors. L1 offers an uninterrupted view of the Sun, making it a strategic point to study solar activities in real time. The payloads have been indigenously developed by different laboratories in the country.

The payloads on Aditya

• Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) will study the solar corona and dynamics of coronal mass ejections.

• Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) will image the solar photosphere and chromosphere in near ultraviolet and measure the solar irradiance variations.

• Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX) and Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) will study the solar wind, energetic ions and their energy distribution.

• Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS) and High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HELIOS) will study the X-ray flares from the Sun over a wide X-ray energy range.

• Advanced Tri-axial High-Resolution Digital Magnetometers (MAG) will measure the interplanetary magnetic fields at the L1 point.

The mission will study the Sun’s atmosphere and its interaction with solar wind. It will also identify the sequence of processes at multiple layers (chromosphere, base and extended corona) which leads to various solar eruptive events besides providing data to understand the problem of coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activities besides space weather. The mission will help enhance assessments of space weather events that can have damaging effects on electronic technologies both in space and on Earth, Hrozensky said.

ISRO’s Astrosat launched some years ago provides excellent data, said Ajay Lele, space expert and consultant, Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, adding that “The success of this mission would only be known after the satellite reaches its location in a few months.”

The Aditya L1 mission marks a significant step in solar physics, for the world and especially for India. Astrophysicist Sudip Bhattacharya, professor at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research told Nature India , “As the distance between the Earth and the L1 point is four times that between the Earth and the Moon, this will also demonstrate India’s prowess in travelling long distances in space,” said Bhattacharyya who is the current principal investigator of the soft x-ray telescope aboard Astrosat.

“The mission will provide insights into how the Sun's radiations affects Earth's atmosphere,” Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan, director, Centre for Security, Strategy and Technology, Observer Research Foundation told Nature India .

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d44151-023-00130-z

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Green Passive Solar Magazine

Highlighting the Sustainable, Renewable and Green Building Technologies of Passive (and Active!) Solar Design

• Movement of the Sun

Passive solar design is based on utilizing the sun’s heat energy and its predictable movements through the seasons.

As the Earth rotates around the sun on its annual cycle, it is tilted at an angle on its vertical axis.  This impacts how the sun’s rays strike various locations on Earth.  The Earth is its most extreme tilt at the winter and summer solstices.

The sun appears to rise in the east and it sets in the west. In actuality, the Earth is rotating on its axis and around the sun.

Here is a diagram that compare the sun’s path on the winter and summer solstices .

A diagram of the sun’s path on the winter and summer solstices, Courtesy of DOE

This affects how low or high the sun appears in relation to the horizon.

In the winter, the sun is relatively low in the sky with its lowest arc through the sky on the winter solstice, on December 21 st .

In the summer, the sun travels a high path through the sky and is at its highest angle on the summer solstice, on June 21 st .

The equinox falls on the point between the solstices and indicates the arrival of spring or fall.

Artist Justin Quinnell strapped a pinhole camera to a lightpole for one year.

This picture shows the sun’s path throughout the year. The highest arc represents the sun’s path on the summer solstice, while the shortest, lowest arc is the sun’s path on the winter solstice.

On each equinox, the sun travels a path that is right in the middle of the path that it travels on the solstices.

March 21 st – Vernal Equinox

June 21 st – Summer Solstice (highest path)

Sept 21 st – Autumnal Equinox

Dec 21 st – Winter Solstice (lowest path)

Passive solar design uses the predictable movements of the sun to best utilize its energy within the building’s overall design both for heating and cooling purposes.  Many passive solar buildings also include active solar aspects, such as photovoltaic panels, as shown on the roof in the first diagram located at the top of this post.

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Maybe I went into too much detail in my last comment. I’ll try to make it simpler.

The diagram contains an error. Yes, the noontime sun for the June and December solstices are probably in about the right place, for somewhere in mid-north latitudes.

But the circles showing the paths of the Sun across the sky should be parallel. The June path needs to rise and set farther north than it does in the diagram. The December path needs to rise and set farther south. They should be traveling both at the same angle relative to the ground.

Which region is this because in southern Africa the winter sun leans more to north than south

You’re correct. Southern Africa is in the southern hemisphere, so if in Southern Africa, you’d face the north to get the winter sun. Here’s another article about building in the southern hemisphere, in New Zealand.

House built in the Solar Decathlon from Team New Zealand and another one built in New Zealand .

Take it from a NABCEP Certified PV Installer. The ideal angle of tilt on a fixed tilt array, to maximize annual production should be equal to your latitude on the earth. For example I’m from Columbia, SC and it lies at 32.8 degrees roughly. So the PV arrays in Columbia (when possible) are tilted at 32.8 degrees. Let’s not forget about azimuth, the closer your array is to 180 degrees south, the better your annual production will be.

Every thing from streetlights and the way cities light up at night this type of harnessing is what I see for the future some people who are visual find it easy to help our economy and help our future with the suns rays and eventually all energy

I believe the diagram is mistaken in one detail. The circle that is the path of the sun will indeed be farthest north on June 21 and farthest south on December 21. But the circle itself (not where we see the sun) will always form the same angle to the (apparently, to an observer on earth) flat plain of the ground. To put it another way, the two circles, and all circles in between will be parallel to each other. By the way, one might have added another circle. That would be half way between the two already there (and parallel to them both, if the two give were shown correctly). They would cross the horizon exactly east and west. That would show the path on both March 20 and September 20, the beginning of (northern) spring and fall, respectively.

And… I just read the linked article. Never mind, that has what I am looking for.

Thanks for the link.

Oh, sorry. Louisville Ky.

Where we are the summer solstice angle of the sun is about 75 degrees from horizontal. Our cloud cover is less in summer than the other seasons. The panels will be fixed, unfortunately. (Funny how a plant’s leaves will move to maxamize sun-catching for free). I would think I would want them at somewhere between 60 and 70 degrees?

What is the ideal angle to have solar panels in Louisville to maximize their efficiency?

Seems to me it would be at wherever the sun is around noon at a month from the summer solstice?

Michael, not sure which Louisville you are located in, but because the globe is a big place, depending on longitude and latitude, the precise ideal angle will differ. The ideal angle for solar panels will also change through the seasons.

Here’s a resource that might be able to help you: http://www.solarpaneltilt.com/

THANKS , IT WAS VERY USEFUL .

We are loosing the safe distance from the sun gradually.

Very, very, very slowly… but in the meantime, why not harness its power? 🙂

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Sunrise and Sunset in India

The 15 most spectacular places to visit in India

Dec 11, 2023 • 14 min read

Expect fairy-tale-like drama against a desert backdrop in magical Jaisalmer, Rajasthan © Andrii Lutsyk/ Getty Images

India’s astonishing variety of sights has to be seen to be believed. Travelers have devoted lifetimes to exploring the famous places and forgotten corners of this incredible country, driven onwards by the certainty that there’s always more to see.

Mughal palaces, towering Hindu temples, mountain monasteries, lost kingdoms, cultured cities, and genteel hill stations in the foothills of the Himalayas all jostle for attention in a country that is proudly shaking off the legacy of colonialism and repositioning itself as a global superpower. With such incredible diversity on offer, there’s just one question – where do you start?

Well, our advice is to not take on too much during a single visit. Pick an area – the tropical south perhaps, or the northern plains, or the mountain valleys of the Himalayas – and give yourself time to pause and soak up the atmosphere as you work through your must-see list .

Wherever you go, you’re guaranteed a mind-expanding and exhilarating blast of color, soul-soaring splendor, earth-shaking history and moments of pure serenity. Equal parts magic and mayhem, this mix is what makes traveling to India such an intense and addictive experience.

While this was no easy list to compile, we’re proud to present our pick of the ten best places to visit in India.

1. Agra, Uttar Pradesh

Best for romantics and fans of Mughal history

At the top of everyone’s bucket list, the Taj Mahal is as glorious as people imagine it would be – a magnificent monument to lost love, executed in pearl-white marble. Views of the world’s most beautiful building framed by a Mughal archway or floating above the misty Yamuna River will be one of the defining moments of any trip to India.

But there’s more to the former Mughal capital than the Taj. Add on a couple of days so you can visit the architecturally stunning tomb of  Emperor Akbar , his rose-red sandstone former capital at Fatehpur Sikri and sprawling Agra Fort , one of India’s most epic fortifications. Thronged by millions of visitors, Agra is not always relaxing, but it’s eternally fascinating.

2. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

Best for intense spirituality

There are few places as beguiling and bewitching as the sacred Hindu city of Varanasi . Millennia-old death rituals play out daily at the cremation ghats that line the bank of the sacred River Ganges, while the maze-like alleyways of the nearby old town reveal dizzying surprises at every turn. We defy anyone to visit without experiencing some internal soul-searching about their place in the universe.

Be ready for some challenges. The hard-edged realities of life and death and the inequalities that continue to cause hardship for many in India are obvious on the streets of the world’s oldest living city. But there are also moments of gentleness – rise at dawn and wander the ghats (riverside steps) and you’ll see Varanasi at its most spiritual, with its attention focused on the sacred river, before the tourist bustle changes the mood.

Planning tip: The best way to appreciate Varanasi’s famous ghats is from a rowboat. Boatmen offer their services from first light at boat stations along the west bank of the Ganges, providing views of a riverfront that has changed only superficially in seven centuries.

3. Mumbai, Maharashtra

Best for urban explorers and Bollywood hopefuls

Mumbai is the perfect place to take the pulse of modern India. The most densely populated city in the subcontinent is home to Bollywood film stars, enterprising market vendors, bankers and executives rushing to work in offices, and fishing families who can trace their origins back to the days when this mighty metropolis was just a humble village.

To understand more about the disparities of life in contemporary Mumbai, take a socially responsible tour through the city’s huge and disadvantaged Dharavi district with Reality Tours & Travel ; 80% of the profits go back to social projects providing opportunities for those left behind by Mumbai’s push for success.

The city’s can’t-miss excursion is the boat trip to the 1500-year-old, UNESCO World Heritage-listed rock-cut temples of Elephanta Island , but fantastic street food is the city’s great leveler. Don’t leave without sampling Mumbai's signature snack, bhel poori – puffed rice and fried dough with lentils, onions, herbs and savory chutneys, best sampled on the beach at Chowpatty or Juhu.

Detour: With time to spare in Mumbai, head to the northern suburbs, where Sanjay Gandhi National Park protects a sprawl of dry forest, home to leopards, deer, monkeys and serene Buddhist cave temples.

Best for an extraordinary taste of Tibet

In the far northwest of India, sheltered from the monsoon by the rain shadow of the Himalayas, the former Buddhist kingdom of Ladakh is culturally and geographically closer to western Tibet than anywhere in India. In this high-altitude moonscape, towering Tibetan monasteries melt into a landscape of barren rock and wind-sculpted hoodoos (don’t miss fabulous Hemis and Thiksey on the road linking Ladakh to Himachal Pradesh ). 

Most visitors start in the atmospheric capital, Leh , before roaming to neighboring valleys for homestay treks and trips to view turquoise salt lakes and colorful masked dances at ancient monasteries. Ladakh wasn't touched by China’s Cultural Revolution, so this is perhaps the closest independent travelers can come to experiencing the original culture of Tibet.

Planning tip: Getting to Ladakh is half the fun. Flights run to Leh even in the depths of winter, but the most enjoyable way in is overland, by road from either Srinagar in Kashmir or Manali in Himachal Pradesh. Buses and shared 4WDs run as long as the passes are open from June to the end of September, or you can tackle the route on a rented Enfield motorcycle.

5. Kolkata, West Bengal 

Best for culture vultures

The capital of colonial British India until 1911, Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) is India’s third-biggest metropolis and the country's intellectual and artistic capital. Spend a few days exploring the energetic bazaars, cultured museums and British-era landmarks, and you’ll soon fall in love with Kolkata’s irrepressible energy.

To really get to know Kolkata, sign up for a Bengali cooking course and visit the revered temple at Kalighat , where the goddess Kali is appeased with sacrifices. With more time to spare, book an overnight wildlife-watching tour to the nearby Sundarbans Tiger Reserve , a legendary stalking ground for royal Bengal tigers.

Planning tip: Try to time your visit to coincide with the festival of Durga Puja in September or October, when vividly colorful effigies of the goddess are displayed in pandals (ceremonial tents) all over the city.   

6. Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Best for desert drama

The desert state of Rajasthan shows India at its most romantic and soft-filtered. Expect a mirage of camel caravans, ornate palaces, mighty forts, turbaned traders and intense colors, set against a backdrop of shifting desert sands. It’s unbelievably photogenic, but also firmly on the tourist map, so expect to share the experience with a crowd.

The pink-sandstone monuments of Jaipur , the ice-white lakeside palaces of Udaipur , and views of blue-hued Jodhpur from its lofty fort are all stunning experiences, but the city that delivers the biggest jolt to the senses is Jaisalmer , seeming sculpted from the living rock of the desert.

Its tangled lanes, towering fortress and beautifully ornate haveli (traditional houses) could have been plucked from the pages of One Thousand and One Nights , and the surrounding desert is the evocative setting for overnight camel safaris.

Planning tip: While it is possible to stay inside the fortified city, visitor numbers are having an impact on Jaisalmer’s historic heart. We recommend staying outside the walls instead – there are plenty of hotels and guesthouses within strolling distance of the fort.

7. The Kerala Backwaters

Best for lovers of slow travel

After the dusty, densely populated northern plains, tropical South India offers a lusher, more laid-back travel experience. The quintessential trip here is a slow-paced canal cruise through the emerald-green backwaters of Kerala , a 900-mile network of languid, coconut-fringed waterways, offering views of an ever-changing tableaux of South Indian life.

Hire a traditional houseboat in Alappuzha for a multiday trip, then settle in for a succulent Keralan seafood curry prepared by your personal chef as the sunset blushes over shimmering waters and silhouetted palm fronds. Post-cruise, it’s just a short hop up the coast to historic Kochi (Cochin) , with its cantilevered fishing nets and Kathakali dance theaters.

8. Bodhgaya, Bihar

Best for budding Buddhists

As the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism (plus countless smaller faiths), India is defined by sacred geography. Even here, however, few places resonate more powerfully than the Bodhi tree where Prince Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment to become the Buddha (Awakened One).

The town that has grown up around this sacred spot is home to dozens of Tibetan and Southeast Asian–style temples and monasteries, with a busy program of Buddhist teachings and courses. It’s the ideal destination for any spiritual explorer.

To get a feel for Bodhgaya ’s rhythms, come early to the Mahabodhi complex and settle in beside chanting Tibetan pilgrims to meditate on the nature of impermanence. Travel experiences don’t get much more profound than this.

Planning tip: Bodhgaya is just one stop on the so-called "Buddhist circuit," taking in key locations from the life of the historical Buddha. Local buses run to nearby Rajgir, the site of one of the first Buddhist monasteries, and Nalanda's ancient Buddhist university complex.  

9. Darjeeling, West Bengal

Best for a premium cup of tea with a view

Fanned by the cool breezes of the eastern Himalayas, surrounded by manicured tea estates and basking in front of epic Himalayan views, Darjeeling is easy to fall for.

For a perfect day, watch the dawn break over 8586m (20,169ft) Kangchenjunga, learn the difference between first-flush and white teas on a plantation tour, linger over an afternoon cuppa at the  Windamere Hotel , then learn about the Tibetan experience at the Tibetan Refugee Self-Help Centre .

The classiest way to arrive is via the nostalgic, narrow-gauge toy train ; book tickets in advance and check to see if the steam service is running (the diesel train follows the same route, but has less charm). Don’t miss the Buddhist gompas (monasteries) dotted around the city. Below Darjeeling on the fringes of Ghum, historic Yiga Choeling Gompa has a special magic.

Planning tip: Darjeeling isn’t the only interesting stop in the area. Shared 4WDs buzz from Darjeeling to Kalimpong , another historic township with colorful Buddhist monasteries, Himalayan views and pretty flower nurseries. 

10. Hampi, Karnataka

Best for a full immersion in history

Between the 14th and 16th centuries CE, the capital of the Vijayanagar empire at Hampi was home to half a million people, but this ancient metropolis was almost completely abandoned, leaving 3700 stone monuments scattered across a surreal plain of boulders.

This is a place to linger, strolling between the boulders to find carved masonry, forgotten shrines and the handsome remains of some of South India’s most dramatic stone temples.

Glance up as you wander and you’ll see rock climbers tackling bouldering routes using chisel marks made by ancient masons. Rent a motorcycle or scooter and you can roam further afield, taking in the hilltop temple marking the spot where the monkey god Hanuman first met Lord Rama.

Planning tip: Hampi is a short bus ride from the town of Hosapete – get here by overnight train from Goa’s beaches, historic Hyderabad or the cosmopolitan southern city of Bengaluru .

11. Arunachal Pradesh

Best for stepping off the map

Tucked away near Bangladesh, the eight Northeast States – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim – are India’s wild frontier. Until the 1990s, this region of rugged mountain valleys was mostly off-limits to foreigners, and visitor numbers are still small – people who travel here earn the right to call themselves proper explorers. 

Sikkim is the most famous destination in the Northeast States, but we’d encourage you east towards the forested foothills and jagged mountains of Arunachal Pradesh , where tribal communities follow a diverse range of traditional belief systems, from the Buddhist Monpa people of Tawang to the animist Apatani people of the Ziro valley. 

Planning tip: Travel takes a bit of effort in Arunachal Pradesh; you’ll need to apply for a permit to enter the state, and local transport is patchy. By far the easiest way to explore is with a chartered 4WD and driver (easily arranged in Guwahati in Assam).  

12. Amritsar, Punjab

Best for experiencing the power of devotion

India has pilgrimage destinations to spare, but few come close to the vibrant energy of the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The most sacred site for the Sikh religion is a gleaming jewel box, floating in a mirror-like sacred pool, thronged day and night by an unbelievable mass of pilgrims. You don’t have to be spiritually inclined to feel its powerful rhythms. 

Joining devotees at the Sri Harmandir Sahib – the gold-paneled shrine at the heart of the complex – is incredibly moving. Staying overnight in the pilgrims' hostels that flank the temple compound only adds to the intensity. A donation is much appreciated for accommodation if possible, though pilgrims of all means will be accommodated if space is available. You can also sit down for meals at the temple langar (kitchen), which provides cost-free nourishment to a staggering 100,000 people per day (again, a donation is appreciated if you have the means).

Planning tip: Don’t limit your explorations to the Golden Temple – the surrounding bazaars buzz with energy and atmosphere, with vendors selling everything from embroidered chappals (sliders) to brass and polished steel pots and pans.   

13. Mysuru (Mysore), Karnataka

Best for feeling like a Maharaja

The atmospheric South Indian city of Mysuru has multiple charms: towering temples, one of India’s most evocative marketplaces, and the almost impossibly extravagant crib that is Mysuru Palace , the ancestral home of the Wadiyar maharajas. No building conjures up the extravagant lives of India’s royal rulers quite so vividly – every room is a fantasy, every ornament an heirloom. 

Around the palace are busy bazaars, rewarding museums and a string of Hindu temples in the classic Dravidian (Southern Indian) architectural style. Devote several days to wandering the streets, hiking up to the Sri Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hill and feasting on fiery vegetarian  thalis (plate meals) in Mysuru’s restaurants.  

14. Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Best for tiger encounters

The national parks of Madhya Pradesh are some of the best places on the planet to get close to royal Bengal tigers. Seeing one of these striped superstars loping out of the jungle will stay with you for a lifetime – as well as leaving you heartbroken at the thought of how few tigers still survive in the wild.

Everyone has their favorite tiger reserve, but we rate Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve near Jabalpur for the density of wildlife in its central Tala range. Around 70 tigers roam these dry forests, alongside leopards, monkeys, deer and gaur – India’s gigantic wild buffalo. There’s a high likelihood of sightings if you devote several days to 4WD safaris (elephant safaris should be avoided as riding can be harmful to these vulnerable animals). 

Planning tip: The best time to see tigers is first thing in the morning – safaris start at 5:30am to catch tigers before they stake out a shady spot in the undergrowth to sleep through the heat of the day. 

15. Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Best for religious splendor

South India's Hindu temples are a joyous celebration of the divine, decorated inside and out with vividly colorful depictions of deities and supernatural beings, both fearsome and sublime. In the southern city of Madurai , the towering gopurams (gateway towers) of the Meenakshi Amman Temple provide a three-dimensional guide to the main deities of the Hindu pantheon.

The current temple was constructed in the 17th century, but the site has been sacred to Meenakshi, the queen of the Pandya kingdom and an incarnation of the goddess Parvati, for at least 2000 years. Come early in the morning to watch sunrise bring the temple to life, then pop to the nearest branch of Murugan Idli Shop for some of the south’s best idli (steamed rice and lentil cakes).  

Detour: A short bus or train ride from Madurai, Tiruchirappalli – aka Trichy – is another top spot for temple enthusiasts. The looming Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the world’s largest Hindu shrines, covering 155 acres (63 hectares) and topped by 21 deity-encrusted towers. More temples crown the rocky outcrop at the heart of the city, offering epic views over the rooftops.  

This article was first published Mar 20, 2022 and updated Dec 11, 2023.

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India launches space mission to the sun a week after moon landing

Aditya-L1 is to observe sun’s outermost layers and will be first vessel by any Asian nation to be placed in orbit around sun

The latest mission in India’s ambitious space program has blasted off on a voyage towards the centre of the solar system, a week after the country’s successful unmanned moon landing .

Aditya-L1 launched shortly before midday, with a live broadcast showing hundreds of spectators cheering wildly against the deafening noise of the rocket’s ascent.

“Launch successful, all normal,” an Indian Space Research Organisation official announced from mission control as the vessel made its way to the upper reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere.

The mission is carrying scientific instruments to observe the sun’s outermost layers in a four-month journey.

The US and the European Space Agency (Esa) have sent numerous probes to the centre of the solar system, beginning with Nasa’s Pioneer program in the 1960s.

Japan and China have both launched their own solar observatory missions into Earth’s orbit.

But if successful, the latest mission from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will be the first by any Asian nation to be placed in orbit around the sun.

“It’s a challenging mission for India,” astrophysicist Somak Raychaudhury told broadcaster NDTV on Friday.

Raychaudhury said the mission probe would study coronal mass ejections, a periodic phenomenon that sees huge discharges of plasma and magnetic energy from the sun’s atmosphere.

These bursts are so powerful they can reach the Earth and potentially disrupt the operations of satellites.

Aditya would help predict the phenomenon “and alert everybody so that satellites can shut down their power”, he said.

“It will also help us understand how these things happen, and in the future, we might not need a warning system out there.”

Aditya, the name of the Hindu Sun deity, will travel 1.5m km (930,000 miles) to reach its destination – still only 1% of the vast distance between Earth and the sun.

At that point, the gravitational forces of both celestial bodies cancel each other out, allowing the mission to remain in a stable halo orbit around our nearest star.

Aditya is travelling on the ISRO-designed, 320-tonne PSLV XL rocket that has been a mainstay of the Indian space program, powering earlier launches to the moon and Mars.

The mission also aims to shed light on the dynamics of several other solar phenomena by imaging and measuring particles in the sun’s upper atmosphere.

India has been steadily matching the achievements of established spacefaring powers at a fraction of their cost.

The South Asian nation has a comparatively low-budget space program, but one that has grown considerably in size and momentum since it first sent a probe to orbit the moon in 2008.

Experts say India can keep costs low by copying and adapting existing technology, and thanks to an abundance of highly skilled engineers who earn a fraction of their foreign counterparts’ wages.

Last month’s successful landing on the lunar surface – a feat previously achieved only by Russia, the US and China – cost less than $75m.

The touchdown was widely celebrated by the public, with prayer rituals to wish for the mission’s success and schoolchildren after its final descent from live broadcasts in classrooms.

India became the first Asian nation to put a craft into orbit around Mars in 2014 and is slated to launch a three-day crewed mission into the Earth’s orbit by next year.

It also plans a joint mission with Japan to send another probe to the moon by 2025 and an orbital mission to Venus within the next two years.

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