Roadmap for Answer Writing

1. Introduction:
   • Start by introducing both missions (ISRO’s Aditya-L1 and NASA’s Parker Solar Probe) and their shared goal of studying the Sun.
   • Mention that although both aim to advance our understanding of the Sun, they differ significantly in their objectives, orbital paths, instruments, and mission duration.
2. Key Heading: Objectives
   • Aditya-L1 Mission:
     • Emphasize its focus on understanding coronal heating and solar wind acceleration.
     • It aims to study the initiation of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and solar flares and their effects on near-Earth space weather.
     • Investigates solar wind distribution, temperature anisotropy, and the dynamics of the solar atmosphere.
   • Parker Solar Probe:
     • Focuses on tracing the flow of energy that heats and accelerates the solar corona and solar wind.
     • Aims to understand the plasma structure and magnetic fields at the sources of solar wind.
     • Investigates mechanisms behind the acceleration and transport of energetic particles.
3. Key Heading: Orbits and Positioning
   • Aditya-L1 Mission:
     • Positioned at Lagrange Point 1 (L1), 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, towards the Sun. This unique positioning allows uninterrupted and continuous solar observations without interference from Earth’s shadow or occultation.
   • Parker Solar Probe:
     • Follows a highly elliptical orbit and reaches as close as 6.16 million kilometers from the Sun’s surface.
     • Utilizes seven gravity assists from Venus to get closer to the Sun for more detailed measurements.
4. Key Heading: Instruments
   • Aditya-L1 Mission:
     • Equipped with instruments like Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT), Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX), and Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA).
     • These instruments are designed to study the solar atmosphere, wind, and particles.
   • Parker Solar Probe:
     • Carries instruments like Solar Wind Electron Alphas and Protons (SWEAP), Wide-field Imager for Parker Solar Probe (WISPR), FIELDS (for magnetic studies), and Integrated Science Investigation of the Sun (ISOIS) to study the solar corona and energetic particles.
5. Key Heading: Mission Duration
   • Aditya-L1 Mission:
     • Expected to operate for at least five years, providing continuous observation from L1.
   • Parker Solar Probe:
     • Expected mission lifespan of about seven years, ending after its closest approaches to the Sun.
6. Conclusion:
   • Summarize the differences between the two missions in terms of objectives, orbital paths, instruments, and mission duration.
   • Highlight how these differences complement each other and enhance our collective understanding of the Sun.
   • Conclude by emphasizing the significance of both missions in advancing solar science.

Relevant Facts for Answer Writing

1. Aditya-L1 Mission:
   • Objectives: Focuses on coronal heating, solar wind acceleration, initiation of CMEs, and understanding space weather.
   • Orbit: Positioned at L1, 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, providing uninterrupted solar observation.
   • Instruments: Includes VELC, SUIT, ASPEX, PAPA for studying the solar atmosphere and wind.
   • Duration: Planned to operate for five years with continuous observation from L1.
2. Parker Solar Probe:
   • Objectives: Aims to trace the flow of energy that heats the solar corona and accelerates solar wind, and study plasma structure and magnetic fields.
   • Orbit: Follows an elliptical orbit, reaching as close as 6.16 million kilometers from the Sun, using gravity assists from Venus.
   • Instruments: Includes SWEAP, WISPR, FIELDS, and ISOIS for studying the corona and energetic particles.
   • Duration: Expected to last seven years, with close solar flybys.