Proba-3 Mission

Why in news?

• The PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 mission, originally set for December 4, 2024, at 16:08 IST, was rescheduled to December 5, 2024, at 16:12 IST due to an anomaly detected in the spacecraft.

About Proba-3 Mission

• Mission Objective:
  • The Proba-3 mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) aims to demonstrate precision formation flying between two satellites to observe the Sun’s corona.
  • It will create an artificial eclipse by blocking direct sunlight, allowing uninterrupted observation of the Sun’s faint corona.
• Mission Components:
  • The mission consists of two small satellites:
    • Coronagraph spacecraft: Captures detailed images of the Sun’s corona in visible, ultraviolet, and polarized light.
    • Occulter spacecraft: A solar-disc-shaped satellite that casts its shadow on the Coronagraph to block sunlight.
• Working Mechanism:
  • The satellites will maintain a tight formation approximately 150 meters apart, allowing the Occulter to create a shadow on the Coronagraph.
  • The formation will enable long-duration observation of the solar corona and provide key data on solar activity, including coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
• Scientific Significance:
  • CMEs: The mission will study the origins of coronal mass ejections, which can affect satellite operations and disrupt power grids on Earth.
  • Solar Irradiance: It will also measure total solar irradiance, tracking variations in the Sun’s energy output and its potential impact on Earth’s climate.
• Launch and Collaboration:
  • The Proba-3 mission will be launched aboard ISRO’s PSLV-XL rocket. This marks ESA’s first launch from India since the Proba-1 mission in 2001.
  • The mission will orbit in a high elliptical orbit, reaching 60,000 km from Earth, ensuring precise formation flying and continuous observation of the Sun.

Key Highlights

• ESA’s Proba-3 mission demonstrates precision formation flying and enhances space exploration by studying the Sun’s corona and solar activity.
• The mission’s scientific goals include understanding solar irradiance, the origins of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and assessing their impacts on Earth’s climate and satellite systems.

The mission will be launched by ISRO, strengthening international collaboration in space science and technology.