Isro's first solar mission, Aditya-L1, takes off from Sriharikota | In pics

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) successfully launched its first solar observatory mission dedicated to study the Sun, Aditya-L1, on Saturday.

The launch took place at 11:50 am from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh.

The spacecraft separated from the fourth stage of the rocket nearly an hour after launch, making it one of the longest missions of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Aditya-L1 is India's pioneering mission to study the Sun and its dynamic activities.

The spacecraft will travel approximately 1.5 million kilometers from Earth to position itself in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) of the Sun-Earth system.

This strategic location will allow the satellite to continuously observe the Sun without any eclipses, providing real-time data on solar activities and their effects on space weather.

The mission carries seven scientific instruments designed to investigate various aspects of the Sun's behavior.

One of the key objectives of the Aditya-L1 mission is to unravel the mystery of the Sun's corona, which is significantly hotter than its surface. 

The successful launch of Aditya-L1 marks a significant step forward in India's space exploration endeavors.