India launches first spacecraft to the Sun just days after historic Moon landing
The IndependentSign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy India successfully launched its first solar space mission on Saturday, just days after becoming the first country in history to achieve a soft landing of a spacecraft on the Moon’s uncharted south pole. A spacecraft named Aditya was launched at 11.50am local time from the same space centre in Sriharikota in southern India where the country’s historic Chandrayaan-3 moon mission was launched in July. Thousands of people gathered to witness the historic launch from a viewing platform at the centre, chanting slogans and cheering as the rocket left Earth with a blast of smoke and fire, setting off for one of the most ambitious missions yet from India’s space agency Isro. “The low earth orbit has been heavily polluted due to private participation, so understanding how to safeguard satellites there will have special importance in today’s space environment,” said Rama Rao Nidamanuri, head of the department of Earth and space sciences at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology.