Aditya-L1, India’s pioneering solar mission, has reached a key milestone as improved sensors onboard successfully detected the impact of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), signalling a huge advance in space exploration.
About Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA)
- PAPA is a masses and energy analyzer designed for in-situ measurements of solar wind electrons and ions at low energy levels.
- Sensor Composition: PAPA consists of two sensors—the Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe (SWEEP) and the Solar Wind Ion Composition Analyser (SWICAR), which allow for thorough observations of solar events.
- Sensors measure the energy of electrons and ions as well as the direction of arrival, allowing for a more complete understanding of solar wind dynamics.
CME Detection and Analysis
- PAPA identified CME events, including on December 15, 2023 and February 10-11, 2024.
- December 15, 2023: A single CME event characterised by a sharp increase in electron and ion counts, which corresponds to solar wind characteristics and magnetic field observations.
- February 10-11, 2024: Multiple minor CME events were recorded, revealing subtle differences in electron and ion counts across time.
Performance Evaluation and Continuous Observations
- PAPA sensors are currently operating in default mode, proving compliance with design criteria across all operational modes.
- Continuous observations demonstrate PAPA’s effectiveness in monitoring space weather conditions, as well as its ability to detect and analyse solar occurrences.
Source: https://www.isro.gov.in/papa_health_status.html