Europe's Proba-3 mission to arrive in India for launch aboard PSLV-XL by Isro

The two spacecraft, designed to create an artificial solar eclipse by precisely manoeuvring in orbit, left Redwire Space facilities in Belgium and will arrive at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre near Chennai for a launch scheduled on December 4, 2024.

In Short

• Launch set for December 4, 2024, from Chennai
• Mission aims for precise solar corona observation
• Collaboration with 14 European Space Agency member states

European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission is set to forever solar observation as it departs Europe for its launch site in India.

The two spacecraft, designed to create an artificial solar eclipse by precisely manoeuvring in orbit, left Redwire Space facilities in Belgium and will arrive at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre near Chennai for a launch scheduled on December 4, 2024.

Mission manager Damien Galano highlighted the significance of this endeavour, noting that it aims to maintain a shadow between the satellites with millimetre precision, allowing for continuous observation of the Sun’s corona—previously only visible during brief terrestrial eclipses.

“Once in orbit, Proba-3’s two satellites will enable sustained views of the Sun’s faint surrounding atmosphere, or corona, that has previously only been visible for a few brief moments during terrestrial solar eclipses. To achieve this the shadow being cast between the spacecraft must remain in precise position, which means they must fly autonomously in formation to an accuracy of a single millimetre – about the thickness of an average fingernail,” Damien said.

This marks ESA’s first launch from India since 2001, with logistical challenges arising due to battery installation issues now resolved.

The Proba-3 satellites will be launched using ISRO’s PSLV-XL rocket, capable of placing the 550 kg duo into a highly elliptical orbit, reaching altitudes up to 60,000 km.

This high orbit is required because the pair will perform their active formation, flying for a planned six hours at a time around their maximum altitude, where Earth’s gravitational pull will be diminished, as will the amount of propellant needed to fine-tune their positions.

This formation flying that will last for six hours at a time, will reduce the gravitational pull and propellant needs.

Contributions from 14 ESA member states and various organisations show the mission’s collaborative nature.

The Royal Observatory of Belgium will oversee the main instrument, ASPIICS, which will provide critical data on solar activity and its effects on space weather. Mission control will be based at ESA’s ESEC in Belgium, where extensive pre-launch training is underway.

As Proba-3 embarks on its journey, it shows a significant leap in solar research and international cooperation in space exploration.