Sat Nov 23 05:55:27 UTC 2024: ## ESA’s Proba-3 Mission to Launch on ISRO Rocket
**Bengaluru, India – November 23, 2024** – The European Space Agency’s (ESA) ambitious Proba-3 mission, the world’s first precision formation flying mission, is set to launch aboard the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on December 4th from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.
Proba-3 will utilize two satellites flying in formation, maintaining a precise 150-meter distance to simulate a single, large structure. This innovative approach allows for a groundbreaking scientific experiment: creating “solar eclipses on demand.” By precisely positioning one satellite to cast its shadow onto the other, the mission will enable unprecedented observation of the Sun’s corona, the source of space weather.
This technology offers a significant advantage over traditional methods which rely on the rare and brief occurrences of total solar eclipses. Proba-3 will provide continuous observations of the solar corona for up to six hours during each orbit, allowing for far more comprehensive data collection. The mission’s ability to peer closer to the solar rim than ever before promises invaluable insights into this enigmatic and scientifically crucial region.
First Piper 