ISRO set to launch PSLV-XL Proba-3 mission on Dec 4: Benefits of ESA's Solar Mission for India
ISRO will soon launch the European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission on December 4. Another collaboration between ISRO and ESA, the event is scheduled to be conducted from Sriharikota, using ISRO's trusty Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-XL). The mission seeks to study the solar corona—the outermost and hottest layer of the Sun's atmosphere—holds significant scientific and technological value, especially for the space research community in India.
Proba-3 is unique because it will feature "precision formation flying," where two satellites—the Occulter Spacecraft and the Coronagraph Spacecraft—will fly in tandem, maintaining a fixed formation to create a continuous, detailed observation of the Sun's corona. The unprecedented technique will allow the mission to offer six hours of observation, equivalent to 50 natural solar eclipses annually. Detailed observation of the corona is needed in order to understand solar events, such as solar storms, winds, and radiation, because such events have direct implications for communications by satellites, power grid management, and navigation on Earth.
The enormous value India can accrue from this mission especially lies in solar physics. The scientists have already involved themselves in defining scientific objectives of the Proba-3 with the European scientists, and the exclusive value of precious data retrieved during this mission can go exclusively to the Indian space researchers, which could enhance India's solar research capabilities to its advantage by enriching knowledge about the space weather over the country.
Continuing in the tradition of successful ESA solar exploration missions, with its previous launches: Proba-1, 2001, and Proba-2, 2009, both successfully launched by ISRO; the new Proba-3, estimated to have a budget of 200 million euros, is another sign of how India's increasing capabilities have cemented their role as a reliable global partner in space missions.
As ISRO's PSLV-XL rocket launches Proba-3, the mission will not only strengthen India's scientific collaborations but also enhance its position in the global space community. The mission's insights into solar weather and its technological advancements are set to have far-reaching impacts, especially for solar research in India.