Proba-3: A New Era in Solar Research

Context: Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission aboard the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)-C59 rocket.

Background:
The PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 Mission marks the 61st flight of the PSLV and the 26th mission using the PSLV-XL configuration.

Key Takeaways:

• PROBA-3, an ESA mission, consists of two satellites designed to study the solar corona, the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere.
• The mission features precision formation flying, where the two satellites will fly in tandem and maintain a fixed configuration in space. This is a world-first attempt at such precise formation flying.
• The two satellites—Occulter Spacecraft (200 kg) and Coronagraph Spacecraft (340 kg)—will simulate a natural solar eclipse. They will maneuver in Earth’s orbit so that one satellite casts a shadow onto the other.
• A natural solar eclipse allows scientists to observe the Sun’s corona for about 10 minutes, occurring approximately 1.5 times per year. However, Proba-3 will provide a continuous 6-hour observation period, equivalent to 50 solar eclipses annually, significantly enhancing the study of the Sun’s corona.
• Both satellites will continuously face the Sun, maintaining a formation of a few millimetres, eventually positioning themselves 150 metres apart for up to six hours.
• The Occulter will cast a shadow onto the Coronagraph, acting as a viewing telescope. This precise configuration will enable uninterrupted observations of the Sun’s corona.
• If successful, the Occulter will generate an artificial yet stable eclipse, blocking the Sun’s blinding light and allowing the Coronagraph to photograph and study previously lesser-known features of the solar corona.