The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch the Proba 3 Sun Observation Mission for the European Union in December using the PSLV-XL rocket. Dr. Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of Science and Technology, announced this on Tuesday.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is preparing to launch the Proba-3 mission today, December 4, 2024, at 4:08 PM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This mission is a collaborative effort with the European Space Agency (ESA) and aims to study the Sun’s corona, the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, using innovative formation-flying technology.

In an interview with IANS at the Indian Space Conclave 3.0 in New Delhi, he mentioned, “The large orbiter Proba 3, designed to observe the Sun, will be sent into space from Sriharikota in December.”

The Proba-3 mission includes two spacecraft that work together:

1. Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC)

This spacecraft is equipped with a telescope that is made to observe the Sun’s corona, which is the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere.

2. Occulter Spacecraft (OSC)

This spacecraft has a special disc that blocks direct sunlight. Doing this allows the CSC to take clear and detailed images of the corona without interference from the Sun’s bright light.

10 Facts that necessary to know about Proba-3

1- Launch Date: The Proba-3 mission is planned to lift off on December 4 in the year 2024, at 4:08 PM IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India.

2- Rocket Information: The PSLV rocket is scheduled to take off at 4:08 PM IST, marking its 61st mission and the 26th flight using the PSLV-XL configuration. The launch will take place at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre located in Sriharikota, India.

3- Rocket Specification: The PSLV-XL rocket is 44.5 meters tall and weighs 320,000 kilograms. It is designed to launch the Proba-3 satellites into a high Earth orbit approximately 18 minutes after it takes off.

4- Mission Purpose: The Proba-3 mission aims to explore the Sun’s corona, which is the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere. It will use advanced technology that allows two spacecraft to fly closely together, creating artificial solar eclipses. This setup will enable scientists to observe the corona for longer periods than usual, providing valuable insights into solar activity and its effects on space weather.

5- Twin Spacecraft: The mission consists of two spacecraft the Coronagraph Spacecraft (CSC), which will observe the corona, and the Occulter Spacecraft (OSC), which will block direct sunlight to allow clearer observations.

6-  Formation Flying Technology: This mission is notable for being the first of its kind globally, demonstrating precision formation flying where the two satellites will maintain a distance of about 150 meters apart with millimeter-level accuracy.

7- Orbit Details: The spacecraft will be placed in a highly elliptical orbit with an apogee of approximately 60,530 km and a perigee of about 600 km, allowing them to study the Sun from different altitudes.

8- Scientific Goals: The mission will help scientists understand solar phenomena such as solar storms and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which can impact Earth’s communication systems and power grids.

9- International Collaboration: This mission highlights the growing partnership between ISRO and the European Space Agency (ESA), showcasing ISRO’s capabilities in global space initiatives. 

10- Historical Context: Proba-3 builds on previous Proba missions (Proba-1 in 2001 and Proba-2 in 2009) but marks a significant advancement by testing formation-flying technology over an extended period in space.

Overall, Proba-3 represents a significant milestone in solar research and advanced space technology, promising to provide valuable insights into our Sun’s behavior and its effects on space weather