Tue Jan 06 05:43:32 UTC 2026: # India Opens Solar Mission Data to Scientific Community on Second Anniversary

The Story:
On January 6, 2026, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announced an “Announcement of Opportunity” (AO) soliciting proposals from the Indian solar physics community for observation time on the Aditya-L1 mission. This announcement coincides with the second anniversary of Aditya-L1 reaching the Lagrangian point (L1) on January 6, 2024. The mission, launched on September 2, 2023, has been continuously observing the Sun from the Sun-Earth L1 point, which is approximately 1.5 million kilometers away from Earth.

Key Points:

  • The AO is open to Indian scientists and researchers working at institutes, universities, and colleges in India involved in solar science research.
  • ISRO has already released over 23 TB of data from the mission into the public domain.
  • The AO will allow researchers to utilize observation time from the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) and Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) payloads.
  • Proposals must be submitted electronically through the Aditya-L1 Proposal Processing System (ALPPS).
  • Approved observations for the first AO cycle will be conducted between April 2026 and June 2026.
  • The Aditya-L1 spacecraft reached L1 point 127 days after its launch

Key Takeaways:

  • ISRO is committed to maximizing the scientific return from the Aditya-L1 mission.
  • Opening the mission data and observation time to the wider scientific community will foster greater collaboration and accelerate solar research.
  • The Aditya-L1 mission’s continuous, uninterrupted observation of the Sun provides valuable data that is free from eclipses or occultation.

Impact Analysis:

This move by ISRO signifies a significant step in advancing solar research within India. By making the data and observation time available to the Indian scientific community, ISRO is fostering a collaborative environment, which will lead to new discoveries and a deeper understanding of the Sun’s behavior and its impact on Earth. This could potentially lead to advancements in space weather prediction, improving our ability to protect satellites and other critical infrastructure. The continued success of the Aditya-L1 mission and the insights gained from the AO will likely strengthen India’s position as a leading nation in space exploration and solar research.

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