Proba-3: Unlocking the Secrets of the Sun’s Corona
Proba-3, the world’s first precision formation flying mission, will launch on December 4, 2024, marking a major milestone in solar research. This ESA-ISRO collaboration aims to study the Sun’s faint corona near its rim, using innovative twin-satellite technology.
Launch Details
ISRO will launch “world’s first precision formation flying mission ESA’s Proba-3 mission on December 4, 2024, at 4:08 PM IST. The mission will take off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. To announce the event, ISRO shared on X, “The PSLV-C59/PROBA-03 Mission is set to take flight on 4th December 2024, 16:08 IST from SDSC SHAR, Sriharikota!”
Mission Objective: Studying the Sun’s Corona
Proba-3’s primary goal is to study the Sun’s faint corona near its rim. Because the Sun’s intense brightness often obscures this region, the mission will use two satellites to create a solar coronagraph, a 144-meter-long instrument. By blocking the Sun’s disk, the coronagraph will allow scientists to observe the elusive corona in greater detail than ever before.
Satellite and Orbit Details
The twin satellites will operate in a highly elliptical orbit, reaching an altitude of 60,000 km before descending to 600 km during each orbit. This design takes advantage of reduced gravity at high altitudes, which minimizes fuel consumption and helps maintain precise satellite alignment. Consequently, this allows for six hours of formation flying per orbit, which is crucial for conducting accurate observations.
Formation Flying Technology
Notably, Proba-3 is the world’s first precision formation flying mission. The two satellites will fly in a fixed configuration, mimicking a single, rigid structure in space. This setup demonstrates advanced rendezvous and formation flying technologies. ESA elaborated, “A pair of satellites will fly together, maintaining a fixed configuration as if they were a single large rigid structure in space.”
Collaborative Efforts and Significance
Proba-3 highlights the growing collaboration between ESA and ISRO. It will also mark ESA’s first mission launched from India since Proba-1 in 2001. The satellites traveled from Liege, Belgium, to Chennai before being transported to Sriharikota. Since their arrival, teams from ESA and ISRO have been working closely to complete final integration and launch preparations.
Broader Impact
Proba-3“world’s first precision formation flying mission will deepen our understanding of solar activity, magnetic fields, and the phenomena driving space weather. These insights are expected to improve our ability to protect satellites and Earth-based technologies affected by solar events. Furthermore, the mission’s success could pave the way for future advancements in solar research and satellite technology.
By combining cutting-edge technology and international cooperation, Proba-3 represents a major step forward in humanity’s quest to understand the Sun and its profound influence on our solar system
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