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ISRO's Proba-3: How Two Satellites Will Simulate 50 Solar Eclipses a Year from Orbit
ISRO's Proba-3: How Two Satellites Will Simulate 50 Solar Eclipses a Year from Orbit
ISRO’s Proba-3 mission uses two satellites to simulate solar eclipses, offering groundbreaking insights into solar storms and space weather’s impact on Earth.
A groundbreaking European space mission has taken flight, with the Proba-3 mission now in orbit. This mission, a collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and India’s ISRO, uses precision formation flying to simulate solar eclipses from space. Launched aboard an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on December 5, 2024, at 5:35 a.m. EST (1035 GMT), the mission promises to deliver valuable insights into solar storms, solar winds, and space weather phenomena that impact Earth's communications and navigation systems.
Mission Overview
Proba-3 is the fourth mission in ESA's Proba series, designed to demonstrate advanced technology for low-cost space exploration. The mission features two Proba-3 satellites: the 200 kg Occulter and the 340 kg Coronagraph. After launch, these two satellites will maintain a precise formation, 150 meters apart, blocking the Sun’s glare and allowing an unobstructed view of the Sun’s corona. This technique mimics a solar eclipse and provides scientists with extended observation periods—up to six hours at a time—equivalent to observing 50 solar eclipses annually.
Significance of the Mission
The Proba-3 mission will offer groundbreaking data on the Sun’s corona, solar storms, and space weather. These phenomena are crucial for understanding the impact on Earth’s atmosphere, as well as communication and navigation systems. Instruments onboard the Proba-3 satellites, including the ASPIICS coronagraph for solar imaging and the 3DEES spectrometer for space weather data, will collect and transmit this vital information.
Why It Matters
This mission, with a budget of $210 million, marks a new chapter in ESA's collaboration with ISRO. The precision flying of the Proba-3 satellites offers an innovative approach to solar research and could significantly enhance our understanding of the Sun’s behavior. The mission's two-year timeline aims to provide new insights into solar energy output and its interaction with Earth’s environment, with the potential to reshape space weather studies.
The Future of Solar Research
Proba-3’s innovative technique of simulating solar eclipses and its precise satellite formation flying could redefine how researchers study the Sun and its effects on space weather. This collaboration highlights the growing partnership between ESA and ISRO, reinforcing the potential for future international space missions to address global scientific challenges.
