ISRO to Launch ESA’s Proba-3 Mission on December 4

Why in the news?

ISRO will launch ESA’s Proba-3 mission to study the Sun’s corona, utilizing precision formation flying, offering crucial solar weather insights and scientific collaboration opportunities for India.

Mission Overview:

  • ISRO will launch the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Proba-3 mission on December 4, 2024, using its PSLV rocket from Sriharikota.
  • Proba-3 aims to study the Sun’s corona, the outermost and hottest layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, which is challenging to observe due to its extreme temperatures.
  • The mission will feature precision formation flying, with two satellites flying together in tandem to create a shadow and block out the Sun’s light, allowing detailed observations of the corona.

ISRO to Launch ESA’s Proba-3 Mission on December 4

Scientific Objectives and Instruments:

Proba-3 will carry three key instruments:

  • ASPICCS (Corona-graph): Observes the Sun’s inner and outer corona, providing a close-up view of the normally visible corona during solar eclipses.
  • DARA (Digital Absolute Radiometer): Measures total solar irradiance, helping study the Sun’s energy output.
  • 3DEES (3D Energetic Electron Spectrometer): Monitors electron flux in Earth’s radiation belts, contributing to space weather research.
  • The mission will provide extended observation time (6 hours compared to the 10 minutes typical in natural solar eclipses), offering unprecedented insights into the solar corona.

Implications for India:

  • Proba-3’s launch highlights India’s growing space capabilities and reliable launch infrastructure, showcasing its position in global space missions.
  • Indian solar physicists could gain exclusive access to Proba-3 data, collaborating with ESA for advanced solar research.
  • India plans to integrate Proba-3 data with its own solar mission, Aditya L1, for joint studies and research advancements related to the Sun.

About Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs):

  • Definition: Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona into space.
  • Components: CMEs consist of electrons, protons, heavier ions, and magnetic fields.
  • Process: They occur when the Sun’s magnetic field becomes unstable and releases vast amounts of material.
  • Impact: CMEs can affect space weather, causing solar storms that influence satellite communications, navigation systems, and power grids on Earth.
  • Propagation: CMEs travel outward through the solar system.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times