At the Indian Space Conclave, Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh revealed that India will launch the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission on December 4, marking a milestone in international space collaboration. The launch will take place from Sriharikota, where the two Proba-3 satellites from ESA arrived earlier this week to be integrated with the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
The Proba-3 mission, which focusses on monitoring the Sun’s corona, uses a novel formation flight with two satellites in very elliptical orbits. The satellites will be transported by a PSLV-XL rocket and will orbit Earth at distances ranging from 60,000 to 600 kilometres. This high-altitude orbit is required for six-hour formation flying periods at peak height, as it reduces the influence of Earth’s gravity and saves fuel for precise positioning.
Proba-3 will provide extended, uninterrupted views of the Sun’s weak corona, which is usually only visible during solar eclipses. Using millimeter-level precision, the mission will cast a shadow between the satellites to deflect direct sunlight, allowing for clear views of the Sun’s outer atmosphere. This level of precision in autonomous satellite creation is a significant leap in solar observation technology.
