Context:
Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
More on the News
- Proba-3 was developed at an estimated cost of 200 million euros and is expected to last for two years.
- The spacecraft has been placed in a highly elliptical orbit with a perigee (the closest point to Earth) of approximately 600 km and an apogee (the farthest point) of 60,530 km, at an inclination of 59 degrees, with a 19.7-hour orbital period.
- Its predecessor Proba-1 was also launched by ISRO in 2001 and Proba-2 was launched by Roscosmos in 2009.
- Teams of scientists from Spain, Belgium, Poland, Italy, and Switzerland have collaborated on Proba-3.
About Proba-3 Mission
Project for On-Board Autonomy–3 (Proba-3) mission aims to study the Sun’s outermost layer corona.
It is considered ESA’s technology demonstration mission.
The mission is designed with two satellites that will be launched together, separate from each other, and then fly in tandem.
It will also attempt the first-ever “precision formation flying”, where two satellites will fly together and maintain a fixed configuration in space.
These satellites will create a solar coronagraph.
- Coronagraph is an instrument that blocks out the Sun’s bright light to help study objects and the atmosphere around it.
The Mission will have 3 following instruments: –
- Coronagraph, called ASPIICS (Association of Spacecraft for Polarimetric and Imaging Investigation of the Corona of the Sun): It will observe the Sun’s outer and inner corona, a region seen during solar eclipses.
It has a 1.4-meter wide disk for blocking the Sun’s light for a clearer view of this region.
Digital Absolute Radiometer (DARA): It will measure the Sun’s total energy output, known as total solar irradiance continuously.
3D Energetic Electron Spectrometer (3DEES): It will measure the flow of electrons as they travel through Earth’s radiation belts, helping with space weather research.
Methodology of Proba-3
Proba-3 consists of two satellites:
- Occulter Spacecraft (200 kg)
- Coronagraph Spacecraft (340 kg)
These two satellites will work together to mimic a natural solar eclipse by positioning themselves in Earth’s orbit (One satellite will cast a shadow on the other).
- A naturally occurring solar eclipse allows solar physicists to observe and study the Sun’s corona for 10 minutes, across an average of about 1.5 eclipse events per year.
- Proba-3 will give six hours, equivalent to 50 such events annually, which will help deepen understanding of the Sun’s corona like never before.
If successful, the Occulter will create an artificial, stable eclipse by blocking out most of the Sun’s light.
This will allow the Coronagraph to capture clear images of the Sun’s corona, revealing details that are usually hard to study.