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The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) achieved a significant milestone on Thursday with the successful launch of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Proba-3 mission. This launch, aboard the PSLV-C59 rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, marks the 61st successful mission for the PSLV. Originally scheduled for Wednesday, the launch was postponed due to a minor technical glitch detected in the satellite's propulsion system, showcasing the rigorous safety protocols employed by ISRO. The successful deployment of Proba-3 into its designated highly elliptical orbit, with an apogee of nearly 60,500 km, represents a testament to the PSLV's versatility and reliability, particularly impressive given this is the first time the PSLV has placed a satellite in such an orbit. The accomplishment underscores ISRO's growing capabilities in undertaking complex commercial satellite missions for international partners, solidifying its position as a leading player in the global space industry.
Proba-3 is unique in its design and objective. It's not a single satellite, but rather a formation of two spacecraft – an Occulter and a Coronagraph – working in tandem. These two spacecraft, launched together as part of a dedicated commercial mission implemented by Space PSU NewSpace India Limited (NSIL), will perform precise formation flying, maintaining a separation of just one millimeter. This incredible precision is vital for the mission's primary goal: to create artificial solar eclipses. The Occulter spacecraft will precisely block the Sun's disc, allowing the Coronagraph spacecraft to observe the Sun's corona – its outer atmosphere – which is otherwise too faint to observe directly, even from space, without the sun's intense light masking it. This innovative approach eliminates the reliance on infrequent and fleeting terrestrial total solar eclipses, allowing for continuous and more detailed observation of the solar corona.
The scientific implications of Proba-3's mission are far-reaching. Total solar eclipses on Earth are rare events, occurring only about every 18 months, and lasting merely minutes. Scientists often have to travel great distances to observe them. Proba-3, however, will generate 'on-demand' solar eclipses, enabling continuous observation of the solar corona closer to the Sun's edge than any previous instrument. This will allow for unprecedented detail in studying the corona’s dynamics, its composition, and its role in space weather phenomena which can affect technology on earth. The ability to achieve these observations for extended periods, around six hours per 19-hour, 36-minute orbit, dramatically increases the data collection potential, enriching our understanding of solar processes. Beyond the solar eclipse experiments, Proba-3 will also conduct crucial formation flying experiments, including rendezvous maneuvers, adjustments in the distance between the two spacecraft, and joint retargeting exercises. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate the viability of operating multiple spacecraft in formation as if they were a single, much larger instrument, potentially paving the way for future complex space missions.
The successful launch of Proba-3 signifies a broader collaboration between ISRO and ESA, highlighting the international cooperation vital for advancing space exploration and scientific research. This collaboration extends beyond the launch itself, encompassing the technical expertise and logistical support provided by NSIL, a testament to the growing role of the private sector in space ventures. The mission's innovative approach to solar observation and its pioneering work in formation flying represent significant advancements in space technology, paving the way for more sophisticated and complex space-based observatories and missions in the future. The data collected by Proba-3 will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our understanding of the Sun and its influence on our solar system, improving our ability to predict and mitigate the effects of space weather. The success of this mission underscores the continued commitment of both ISRO and ESA to pushing the boundaries of space exploration and harnessing the power of space technology for the benefit of scientific advancement and global knowledge.
Source: Isro puts ESA’s Proba-3 in orbit; satellites to create solar eclipse experiment