According to multiple sources, the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) will deploy the European Space Agency (ESA)’s Proba-3 mission using its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from Sriharikota on December 4, 2024. Designed to investigate the Sun’s corona, the mission marks an important collaboration between India and Europe. Proba-3 will attempt a precision formation flight, where two satellites will work together to form a solar coronagraph, allowing detailed studies of the Sun’s outer atmosphere.
What does Proba-3 aim to achieve?
Proba-3’s primary focus is the solar corona, the outermost layer of the Sun, known for extreme temperatures of up to 2 million degrees Fahrenheit. The region is important for understanding phenomena such as solar storms and winds that affect space weather and disrupt Earth-based technologies, including power grids and satellite communications.
The mission is equipped with three instruments. The ASPIICS Coronagraph will simulate a solar eclipse, providing an unprecedented view of the Sun’s inner and outer corona. The Digital Absolute Radiometer (DARA) will measure total solar irradiance, while the 3D Energetic Electron Spectrometer (3DES) will monitor electron flux within Earth’s radiation belts, providing valuable insights into space weather.
Why is Proba-3 leading?
Proba-3 will use two satellites – a 200 kg Occulter spacecraft and a 340 kg Coronagraph spacecraft – that will be precisely aligned to mimic an artificial eclipse. The occultation will cast a shadow, allowing the coronagraph to capture images of the corona uninterrupted for up to six hours at a time. The system overcomes the brief observation window of natural solar eclipses and is expected to capture data equivalent to 50 such events annually.
India’s role and benefits
ISRO’s selection for this high-profile mission underlines the reliability of its launch infrastructure. Indian solar physicists are expected to get exclusive access to Proba-3 data, which will enhance research opportunities alongside ESA scientists. According to reports, collaborative studies with data from India’s Aditya-L1 mission are also being planned, which will lead to advances in solar physics.
