Sun Dec 08 07:04:50 UTC 2024: **ISRO Successfully Launches ESA’s Proba-3 Solar Mission**
Chennai, December 8, 2024 – The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission aboard the PSLV-C59 rocket today. This groundbreaking mission, utilizing two satellites—a coronagraph and an occulter—will provide unprecedented observations of the Sun’s corona.
The launch, the 61st flight of the PSLV and 26th using the PSLV-XL configuration, marks a significant collaboration between ISRO and ESA. The Proba-3 satellites, positioned 150 meters apart, will mimic a total solar eclipse, providing continuous observation of the Sun’s corona for six hours per orbit—equivalent to approximately 50 natural solar eclipses annually. This will allow scientists to gather high-resolution images and data crucial for understanding solar wind and space weather events.
According to P.V. Venkitakrishnan, a former ISRO director, the mission’s innovative design and advanced technologies will significantly advance solar physics research and improve space weather forecasting. The data collected will help predict space weather events that can impact Earth’s magnetic field and satellite operations. The collaboration highlights ISRO’s growing role in international space missions and its capacity to provide reliable and cost-effective launch services. ESA’s participation underscores their reliance on ISRO’s launch capabilities.
First Piper 